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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to move out of my rented property giving 4-6 weeks notice?

29 replies

ShinyPinkShoes · 16/09/2008 01:36

I moved in here in February- lovely but slightly run down/shabby basement flat.

Landlords are 'sort of' friends.

Several things in the flat need repairing and to be honest have never been right from the start- back door lock sticks meaning it doesn't open very easily and usually takes a few goes. Several other things which aren't great- windows not opening etc etc

Anyway, my lease ran out a month ago. A month before that I said I'd like to stay in the flat. After much apology last week they gave me a new lease to sign without checking how long I wanted to stay for.

In the meantime the general run-down-nes of the flat has really bothered me. They have had considerable work done to their own property over the Summer and despite my asking several times none of the rapairs have been done to mine.

So anyway- I have come across a lovely, bigger property in much better condition for the same price. The only thing is that I'd need to only give them about 6 weeks notice before moving.

Seeing as we have not yet signed a new agreement would that be okay?

OP posts:
fortyplus · 16/09/2008 01:41

I think a month's notice for rented accommodation would be fine. Lucky them if you give them 6 weeks

Original poster
ShinyPinkShoes · 16/09/2008 01:43

You think?

I'm sitting here feeling terrible about it.
But then even if my tenancy agreement was current I'd only need to give them 8 weeks I guess.

They will be vvv shocked

Thanks for the reply

OP posts:
fortyplus · 16/09/2008 01:52

The only private rented tenancy agreements I've ever seen have 1 month notice for the tenant and 2 months for the landlord - ie they have to give you 2 months notice if they want you to move out.

So - whilst I understand why you feel bad - I think 6 weeks is more than reasonable

shieldofsteel · 16/09/2008 07:57

If you had an AST then after the period in runs for, usually 6 months, You automatically go onto a rolling tenancy without signing anything. One month rent from a rent date is standard but if you give less than that then you can be made to pay the difference. Give notice asap to keep them on side and be accommodating about other people viewing.

Upwind · 16/09/2008 08:18

YANBU

If they know you personally they should really be charging you a "friend's rate" - not out of the goodness of their hearts but because they know you personally they are taking much less of a risk than if they had rented the flat out to the first person who answered an ad.

If there are lovely, bigger properties in much better condition for the same price they are actually ripping you off. And by not carrying out repairs they are failing in their duty as landlords.

I would just give them the legally required four weeks notice.

QuintessentialShadow · 16/09/2008 08:22

Echo Upwind. Well posted.

nametaken · 16/09/2008 08:34

What upwind said

LIZS · 16/09/2008 08:41

If you haven't signed another one and the original was an Assured Shorthold Tenancy the same terms continue. Usually that is a month's notice on tenant's side and 2 on landlord's unless otherwise specified.

shieldofsteel · 16/09/2008 08:52

It is usually a month from a rent date ie if you pay your rent on 14th of the month then you are obliged to pay your last rent on 14 Nov and move out 13th Dec, but if you pay on the 20th you can give notice now, pay your last rent on 20th Oct and move out 19 Nov. It can make quite a difference.

2beornot2be · 17/09/2008 11:20

Depends on your agreement but if you have not signed the contract give them as much notice as you wish to. I am moving next week I can't wait to get out my shitty flat its over expensive and my landlords are twits I didnt give them any notice

pookamoo · 17/09/2008 11:29

As others have said, in these circumstances it is usually 2 months' notice for the landlord and one for the tenant, but if you have signed up to another 6 month period it might be different. It will usually state the notice period but often it's fixed for the 6 months and unless there is a new tenant waiting, it could jeopardise your deposit!

2beornot2be Don't forget that the Landlord might need the rent to pay their mortgage on the property!

We're renting out our old house because we had to decide if we were going to carry on and try to sell it in this terrible climate which might take forever and we'd lose the house we wanted to buy, or rent it out just to get moving. Don't assume all landlords are moneygrabbers, some are just trying to keep above water! I'm actually really scared about what would happen if the tenants did a bunk!

chipmonkey · 17/09/2008 11:52

Agree with pookamoo re the mortgage. I bent over backwards for my tenants, they have breached the terms of their contract, have broken my new blinds and will be leaving us very short of money this month!

pookamoo · 18/09/2008 09:52

For exactly the reason chipmonkey has said, we are very wary of renting to friends or firends of friends. THe 20 year old daughter of a friend wants to look at the house with her boyfriend and I'm in a bit of a quandary as to whether to let her have it if she wants it. On the one hand, it would be good to get a tenant, but on the other hand, would they be good tenants, (she's a "young" 20 year old IYSWIM) and if not, it would be really uncomfortable if things went wrong!

(sorry OP, didn't mean to hijack your thread!)

2beornot2be · 18/09/2008 09:59

pookamoo, chipmonkey I am sorry about your tenants but not all landlords are angels My Landlord is rude aggressive he comes into the property when he thinks we are out. I pay £1275 a month in rent thats without bills and in the last 6mths I have had to deal with mice broken toliets filthy carpets damp to the point the wall was nearly falling down So I could not careless what money problems they will have I am moving out next Sunday and they know I am going

chipmonkey · 18/09/2008 12:45

You don't live in Dublin by any chance?

Original poster
ShinyPinkShoes · 18/09/2008 16:52

Thank you all for your responses which have been incredibly helpful.

Am going to see prospective new home at 6pm and discuss when it will be available from.

I am meeting with my current landlords at 8pm this evening. Feeling very nervous but to be honest from reading this thread it's obvious I don't need to be. I have been more than patient and more than fair. The least notice I will give them is 6 weeks and I can tell you now I'll be leaving this place in a darn site better condition than I found it

OP posts:
Upwind · 18/09/2008 16:57

Shiny, make sure that you follow up your converstation with an email so you have a record of the notice being given. You can't be too careful with dodgy landlords like that.

pookamoo, there is a world of difference between renting to a "young 20 year old" and her boyfriend as a favour and renting to someone like the OP.

StayFrosty · 18/09/2008 17:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ShinyPinkShoes · 18/09/2008 17:18

Also- just to follow up on a point made:

I am paying market rate rent for the property but being honest it's really not worth what I am paying in its current condition. So, in other words- no mates rates here!

Thanks Upwind- very good and helpful point!!

OP posts:
pookamoo · 18/09/2008 21:22

Oh, yes upwind I realise that.
I think the OP is being very reasonable and I hope her landlords haven't tied her into something she didn't want, ie. another 6 months in a place she would like to leave!

shiny hope your new home is lovely!

AccidentalMum · 18/09/2008 21:25

pookamoo..if your tenants 'did a bunk', you'd have their deposit to cover the month at the most that it should take to rent your property at a fair price.
It's tenants that have the constant stress of being told that the house is being sold and they need to move, coupled with the fear of a poor reference shackling them to the tenancy.

AccidentalMum · 18/09/2008 21:26

Sorry!

To OP, no, YANBU.

chipmonkey · 19/09/2008 11:21

My tenants decided that their deposit WAS a months rent so didn't pay the second month.Which means officially they are now living rent-free in our property and we will not have the deposit to pay for any damage they have done.

jammi · 19/09/2008 11:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

2beornot2be · 19/09/2008 11:36

Chipmonkey if the deposit is in a tenents deposit scheme u should have no problems Is it in the scheme because if its not then to be fair ur Screwed

My landlords are complete twats and I know if we moved out we would never see our deposit again as they never put our deposit in a scheme and they are lucky that I am not taking them to court but lucky me I am outer of there next Sunday toot toot