Landlord wants to renew tenancy 6 months early

[Dumbo20]

My landlord has started talking about renewing my tenancy 6 months before it ends.

I said to him that we are in the middle of a pandemic, I have not had my vaccine and a lot can change between now and July.

Do you think it is too early for him to start this discussion? Am I being unreasonable?

I am not in a position to make any new agreement this early. I got made redundant and I’m just in the process of getting a new job which I’m hoping to finalise in the next two weeks.

There is no need for a renewal. The existing contract is fine.

All Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreements have an initial period locking both sides in for a set amount of time and then automatically move to a rolling contract which needs no renewal but landlords tend to like to pretend a renewal is necessary. It isn't.

Just say "no thanks I am happy with the agreement as it currently stands". You don't have to give any reasons why not. Your landlord is obliged to abide by their obligations which means allowing you quiet enjoyment of your home ie leaving you alone except if there is something going wrong that needs fixing.

Landlord here, I agree with PP there is no need to take action if your lease is still valid for another 6 months. There could be various reasons for them asking (eg I have a property I plan to sell when my current tenant moves out, but I'm planning to wait until that happens...perhaps they are just trying to get a handle on your plans for the future?). It's perfectly fine to say that you are not in a position to say what your plans are going to be in 6 months. Don't give any more details and don't worry about it. I would never ask a tenant about renewing at the 6 month, mark, but if you have a 6 month break clause they may be trying to ask whether you plan to leave early if that option is open to you. What you have said is fine; if they have concerns let them tell you and again, don't worry about it.

Your choice, but it's not a one-way street. If your landlord senses you are noncommittal he may look for a new tenant and insist you leave in 6 months' time. Then the choice will be taken out of your hands.

I’m on a 2 year AST. The break clause was in January. Agreement due to end in July.
I was working in central London but it’s highly likely with a new job I’ll be working from home.
I’m currently paying very high rent to be near to mainline station direct to London but if I’m working at home I don’t need to be next to the station paying premium rate for housing.

Possibly your landlord is panicking a bit as more and more people are going to be working from home and therefore not needing to be near the station / city. So the demand for high rent but convenient accommodation will drop. Fingers crossed you get the job!

That makes a lot of sense then. Your landlord wants to lock you into a new deal quickly before it becomes obvious that the going rate for the property has plummeted.

Sit tight till July.

I could move down the road and pay 750 less a month if I work from home even if I were to stay renting. I’m hoping to get new job very quickly but I know that even if I get it this week my start date won’t be until 1 March. I have not asked for any reductions on my rent since COVID started and I would not go there with the landlord.

The Section 21 notice period landlords need to give tenants is currently extended to 6 months due to covid so it could just be the issue is in your landlord's mind and they want to create more certainty for you both.

MN is always very critical of landlords but as the common complaint is that renting is insecure because landlords will give notice too soon, I think many tenants would be glad to know their tenancy is secure for longer. Of course that only applies if you actually wanted to stay in the property. If you don't know, then you don't have to decide either way yet.

I’m hoping dishy rishi extends SDLT holiday and then I could buy in the summer. I don’t mind renting but I’m getting older and need to be back on housing ladder otherwise prices will not be affordable. My landlord owns half the high street properties and is loaded. He’s not
Looking to sell the house. He’s greedy.

The Section 21 notice period landlords need to give tenants is currently extended to 6 months due to covid so it could just be the issue is in your landlord's mind and they want to create more certainty for you both

"both", just certainty for him surely, he has to serve the section 21 notice now - in fact he really needs to protect himself from the uncertainty (the OP can walk out on the current end date, or choose to stay without giving any notice of their intentions beforehand) But I imagine he doesn't want to serve a section 21 if you do want to stay as it's not very friendly.

I'd not sign a new one, tell him you haven't decided, but he may well serve the section 21, he sort of has to - that will remove your right to just continue in the property (although actually not that much as only the court can actually make you leave of course)