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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To NOT leave rented house when I said I would?

769 replies

WaitingForLifeToGetEasier · 29/01/2023 12:11

Been in current rented house for 9 years. Landlord is a company with 30+ properties.

Tenancy is generally renewed every year as LL puts rent up.

Last year, less than 6 months into our latest year long tenancy agreement, an estate agent contacted me out of the blue saying he'd been instructed to sell the property so I needed to agree to a time for them to value and take photos as well for viewings.

I was shocked as LL has not said anything and it transpired that the letting agent has added a 6 month break clause into the tenancy agreement. There had never been one In previous agreements and I wasn't made aware.

I made it clear i was not going to allow anyone in the property until the end of the agreement and if the landlord wanted to sell, I'd leave at that time.

Tenancy is up in early March. I had expected to get a Section 21 in early January but nothing.

We have been looking but properties are either not available anymore or agent doesn't get back to us so have not found a property yet. Rents seem to have gone up £3-400 a month which is going to be impossible.

Not sure if LL is just expecting us to leave or what but I am not intending to leave in early March and will stay as long as possible - await section 21 etc.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
Andypandy799 · 30/01/2023 00:24

Sorry pays not lays

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 30/01/2023 00:25

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 30/01/2023 00:23

If only there were a legal process of letting a tenant know you expect them to leave the property 🤣 someone should tweet the PM about this idea

Show quote history

Well, yes, that would be an amazing idea…

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 30/01/2023 00:25

JenniferSlopez · 30/01/2023 00:23

Why would anyone book workmen when they haven’t taken repossession of the property?

You're probably right. It'd the first time in human history where somebody has forgotten to send the official docs to follow up a conversation.

It’s not just ‘forgetting to send official do’.

Its forgetting to start the legal process altogether meaning you have no rights whatsoever to take the property back into your possession.

It doesn’t meant he LL can say to the tenant “oops silly me, oh well you have to move out anyway.” Or even better “Why didn’t you REMIND me to kick you out?!?!”

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 30/01/2023 00:26

JenniferSlopez · 30/01/2023 00:23

Why would anyone book workmen when they haven’t taken repossession of the property?

You're probably right. It'd the first time in human history where somebody has forgotten to send the official docs to follow up a conversation.

If they book workmen without any conversation about departure dates, inventory checks and key returns then they’re more incompetent than just forgetting “official docs”

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 30/01/2023 00:27

Absolutely bonkers on this thread.

Even the ex shit ll downstairs from the flat I have wasn’t as clueless as some. It’s unreal

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 30/01/2023 00:29

I am quite titillated at the thought of finding inventive ways of serving a tenant notice in lieu of a legal process.

Could send them a riddle to solve?
A barbers shop quartet?
Hire a little plan and have the words trail behind it.
A saw-style challenge to leave the house in one piece

TimeToFlyNow · 30/01/2023 00:30

Andypandy799 · 30/01/2023 00:24

@WaitingForLifeToGetEasier

“He's worth at least £50 million (in news). House has increased by £150k since we moved in and we've paid £140k in rent. Nice little earner huh!“

That’s why it lays to buy rather then rent, quite an expensive lesson learned

Do you feel better for pointing that out? Like those of us that rent don't already know that 🙄

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 30/01/2023 00:32

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 30/01/2023 00:29

I am quite titillated at the thought of finding inventive ways of serving a tenant notice in lieu of a legal process.

Could send them a riddle to solve?
A barbers shop quartet?
Hire a little plan and have the words trail behind it.
A saw-style challenge to leave the house in one piece

My old cat used to wander back occasionally - a note on his collar would have been good.

Maybe smoke signals - especially around bonfire night.

JenniferSlopez · 30/01/2023 00:33

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 30/01/2023 00:26

If they book workmen without any conversation about departure dates, inventory checks and key returns then they’re more incompetent than just forgetting “official docs”

Show quote history

What, like the conversation OP mentioned in her first post?

The OP is 'AIBU to NOT leave rented house when I said I would?' This rather implies she 'said she would', no?

607 replies

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 30/01/2023 00:34

Hiring the Geordie bloke from Big Brother to bellow through your letterbox “You have been evicted! Please leave the Big Landlord house”?

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 30/01/2023 00:36

JenniferSlopez · 30/01/2023 00:33

What, like the conversation OP mentioned in her first post?

The OP is 'AIBU to NOT leave rented house when I said I would?' This rather implies she 'said she would', no?

607 replies

Show quote history

It doesn’t matter.

No one has been served notice or handed notice over. The conversation is utterly and completely irrelevant. It may as well never have happened.

No LL with 30 properties thinks a half arsed conversation is an actually legally binding notice to quit. Unless they’re exceptionally stupid.

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 30/01/2023 00:37

I mean May as well consider the thread title a legally binding contract if you’re gonna go down that route

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 30/01/2023 00:37

JenniferSlopez · 30/01/2023 00:33

What, like the conversation OP mentioned in her first post?

The OP is 'AIBU to NOT leave rented house when I said I would?' This rather implies she 'said she would', no?

607 replies

Show quote history

Where in the OP, or her clarifying follow ups, is a date, the inventory or key returns mentioned?

In fact she hasn’t even told them that she will leave. Just that she’d try.

JenniferSlopez · 30/01/2023 00:37

I'm sure the landlord will try his hardest to be accommodating when inspecting the property and deciding what needs to come out of the deposit.

And also when writing the reference.

Oh wait, the reference is discretionary. He doesn't actually need to write one at all. My bad.

batterseaparkfireworks · 30/01/2023 00:38

Toddlerteaplease · 29/01/2023 13:05

Why on earth do people think they have a right to stay in a rented property, and refuse viewings etc. The landlord has every right to sell. And not allowing viewings is just petty. It's not your house.

Absolutely this...

JenniferSlopez · 30/01/2023 00:38

Can Landlords Refuse to Provide a Reference?

Landlords can refuse to provide a reference for tenants. However, it is always best to provide tenants with a reference, good or bad, as the new landlord has the right to know about the history and character of their prospective tenants.

However, no reference can be just as telling as a bad reference. A previous landlord refusing to provide a reference can imply that their tenant was a bad tenant for one reason or another.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 30/01/2023 00:39

JenniferSlopez · 30/01/2023 00:37

I'm sure the landlord will try his hardest to be accommodating when inspecting the property and deciding what needs to come out of the deposit.

And also when writing the reference.

Oh wait, the reference is discretionary. He doesn't actually need to write one at all. My bad.

Aye, once he’s served his notice and the OP leaves he can do that…

The obsession about the OP’s reference is hilarious. Large owning LLs will be well known in an area. Other LLs will know if he cuts corners and if a reference is worth heeding.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 30/01/2023 00:40

JenniferSlopez · 30/01/2023 00:38

Can Landlords Refuse to Provide a Reference?

Landlords can refuse to provide a reference for tenants. However, it is always best to provide tenants with a reference, good or bad, as the new landlord has the right to know about the history and character of their prospective tenants.

However, no reference can be just as telling as a bad reference. A previous landlord refusing to provide a reference can imply that their tenant was a bad tenant for one reason or another.

It can also be a sign of a shit LL.

There are three LLs and two agents in my area that folks don’t even bother with references from.

Decent LLs know the shit that poor LLs do

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 30/01/2023 00:40

JenniferSlopez · 30/01/2023 00:37

I'm sure the landlord will try his hardest to be accommodating when inspecting the property and deciding what needs to come out of the deposit.

And also when writing the reference.

Oh wait, the reference is discretionary. He doesn't actually need to write one at all. My bad.

No and he’s be a dick just because OP didn’t move out when she hasn’t been asked to 🤣 luckily OP would still get a reference through the EA.

And the whole point of a tenancy deposit scheme is that the OP could dispute any money he’d try to dock and this is easily done by taking pictures everywhere before the inspection.

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 30/01/2023 00:41

batterseaparkfireworks · 30/01/2023 00:38

Absolutely this...

Show quote history

In what way? OP hasn’t been asked to leave.

Knoblauch · 30/01/2023 00:41

JenniferSlopez · 30/01/2023 00:37

I'm sure the landlord will try his hardest to be accommodating when inspecting the property and deciding what needs to come out of the deposit.

And also when writing the reference.

Oh wait, the reference is discretionary. He doesn't actually need to write one at all. My bad.

He also can't legally withhold funds from the deposit or fraudulently claim from it.

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 30/01/2023 00:42

JenniferSlopez · 30/01/2023 00:38

Can Landlords Refuse to Provide a Reference?

Landlords can refuse to provide a reference for tenants. However, it is always best to provide tenants with a reference, good or bad, as the new landlord has the right to know about the history and character of their prospective tenants.

However, no reference can be just as telling as a bad reference. A previous landlord refusing to provide a reference can imply that their tenant was a bad tenant for one reason or another.

So tenants now have to move out when they haven’t been asked to just to get a good reference? OK then.

As I say EAs worth their salt would give a good reference for a tenant who’s paid rent on time for 9 years.

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 30/01/2023 00:43

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 30/01/2023 00:39

Aye, once he’s served his notice and the OP leaves he can do that…

The obsession about the OP’s reference is hilarious. Large owning LLs will be well known in an area. Other LLs will know if he cuts corners and if a reference is worth heeding.

Show quote history

It really is hilarious.

What would likely happen:

LL Serves s21
OP finds a new home
OP needs a reference before move out date because presumably move out date is the same date as move IN date
LL could NOT put “OP didn’t move out when I told her to” because the s21 hasn’t come to an end yet so this would be a rather embarrassing lie.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 30/01/2023 00:46

“Dear New LL

OP was a tenant from 2014-2023

She was a bad tenant who paid her rent on time and stuck to get tenancy agreement. Don’t rent to her”

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 30/01/2023 00:47

*her tenancy agreement