To NOT leave rented house when I said I would?

[WaitingForLifeToGetEasier]

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?

How though?
How do you sort yourself out if there's literally nothing to rent?
Or if the only properties available are £400 a month more than you an afford.

What do you suggest?

Tenants exercising their rights puts you off being a landlord? Probably for the best

Nobody is buying this house yet, it's not even on the market!

A landlord company with 30 plus properties will know the process as it isn't their first rodeo.

They'll have record of every contact attempt by post, phone, email, text so ignoring their calls and pretending you haven't received notice won't work in your favour.

If op hasn't got a section 21 then she doesn't need to leave.

She hasn't received notice. Only a s21 notice is formal notice. Verbally being asked means nothing.

“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.”

Well more fool you for not checking something as important as a rental contract.
You’ve had plenty of notice.

I’m wondering if I’m reading the same OP as other people.

She hasn’t been asked in writing to go.

You don’t just assume it’s time to leave at the end of the tenancy, unless you’ve been given notice in writing.

OP is not in arrears, has a perfect right to refuse viewings of her home and has don’t nothing to warrant adverse credit or a bad reference.

I’m a LL and I’d always issue a section 21 if I expected you to leave. I’d guess they may have changed their mind, with 30 properties they should be al over this.

Having said that it’s worth checking and asking the question. It’ll be easier to focus your search if you know when you need to move. As a PP said, it’s worth asking if they have anything available.

I'm sure people just talk out of their arses for the fun of it on here! Credit rating being shot? How? If she has no arrears then what on earth would they pursue her for?

S21 isn't just a way of getting a council house. It puts the legal duty with the LA on preventing homelessness. The LA can liaise with the current landlord for extensions or with other potential landlords where they can offer support with deposits and rent temporarily. So yes, waiting for the s21 is by far the wisest solution for the OP, especially if they can't afford the local private rent anymore

You’d actually be foolish to leave without any contact with your LL.

Technically they haven’t served you notice. If you leave they could easily say you’re still liable for the rent as no break has been legally instigated by them.

Personally I’d contact them and ask them when they’re planning on issuing the S21 or if the sale plans have been cancelled.
That way you’ve highlighted that they’ve not served you properly and also not leaving yourself in limbo.

Not that easy though is it when there's nothing else out there?? I'm in same situation landlord selling I've been a good tenant for 10 years. Don't imply all tenants are bad.

Yep.

It’s frightening how many people with NO knowledge of tenancy/landlord rights give tenants shitty advice on here

@SerenaTee because it wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't sent out to their incompetence, that's why! Why would I want to remind them?!

I'd rather move in May than March. Who wouldn't? The additional rent we're going to have to pay for those two months will be in region of £600-800 if we're lucky. I've also got a court case ongoing which will be over by May.

Why would I f**k myself over for my millionaire landlord who made me wait two years for an essential repair?

Some of these responses are embarrassing for the poster who posted them. Affecting my credit rating? Not paying the rent? Rolling over and leaving before I've been legally asked to so I don't inconvenience my multi millionaire landlord who has made hundred of thousands of £s out of me. Cringeworthy 🤨

This thread is funny.

It must be Stupid Sunday.

Why do people think the property has been sold without a single viewing 😂

Lol.

Did I miss something?

Where is the fair warning?

A break clause is not a notice to leave. HTH.

The irony calling the poster horrible after what you've just written 🙄 who said they would be living there rent free. ? Are you a bitter landlord per chance?

The OP hasn’t remotely suggested living for free

Why not save the ire for the corner cutting LL who hasn’t followed proper process?

If the OP moves out the LL is currently fully entitled to say “we didn’t serve notice so you’re still liable for the rent”

I'm sure many wiill disagree...but imo yes you should leave.
This may be your 'home' but it's not your house... legally it's not your property. You've been given adequate notice.
Why make everyone's life more difficult, including your own because you certainly won't get a reference, which you'll need to secure a new place.....and at the end of it all, you still have to leave no matter how much of a fyas you make...

WTAF.

As a businessman he should know to serve a tenant with their notice to leave.

If he doesn’t do the basics he’s a fucking idiot.

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.

@somuchtolearnabout where have you got the idea OP isn’t gonna pay rent from???