Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Cost of living

Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Renting

17 replies

Anon1218 · 04/09/2022 23:45

We are privately renting and struggling with me on maternity leave and the prices of everything going up, our rent is £1800 pcm and we could find somewhere for around £1500 about a ten minute drive from where we are now, but it would mean we’d be charged an early cancellation fee of £500 if we end out contract before the end date in dec 2023. My questions is would you move mid contract and incur the cancellation cost and cost of moving or just stick it out until the contract is up then move somewhere cheaper. The main thing is we can handle the rough bit whilst I’m on maternity leave (due to return in feb) BUT we want to be able to save as much as we can once I return to work.

OP posts:
GetOffTheRoof · 04/09/2022 23:50

The cancellation fee will new paid off by two months of the list rent, then you'll have at least another 15 months of £300 more available for other payments.

It's a no brainer to me - assuming all other things are equal like the usage of gas, electric, water, travel costs etc. If the new house freezing and full of drafts etc and the current one is cosy and warm, it's up for debate on quality of life as well.

Original poster
Anon1218 · 04/09/2022 23:55

GetOffTheRoof · 04/09/2022 23:50

The cancellation fee will new paid off by two months of the list rent, then you'll have at least another 15 months of £300 more available for other payments.

It's a no brainer to me - assuming all other things are equal like the usage of gas, electric, water, travel costs etc. If the new house freezing and full of drafts etc and the current one is cosy and warm, it's up for debate on quality of life as well.

Thank you… The property should be roughly the same in terms of other costs, maybe a bit cheaper on council tax. The only other issue I forgot to mention is we have a 4 year old and he’s just settled in to the new home (we moved Dec 21) and I don’t know whether it’s a bit cruel to unsettle him again. My partner thinks we should wait it out here until the contract is up, but I feel like it’s just wasting money we really need.

OP posts:
HarrietSchulenberg · 04/09/2022 23:57

If you wait until the contract is up, the rent in the other area might have increased so the gap is negligible. I'd go now, if I were you.

Cynderella · 05/09/2022 07:05

It's not cruel to unsettle a child by moving home. May be something you'd avoid if you can, but four year olds move on quickly.

I would pay £500 as a one off to save £3,600 over a year.

carefullycourageous · 05/09/2022 07:20

Unless there is other info missing, paying £500 once to save £300 x 12 is an extremely good idea. The money saved on rent will help to offset your energy bill rise (feels mad typing that).
I disagree with your dh - IMO it is certainly not cruel to move to improve things for your family..

SilentHedges · 05/09/2022 08:41

Also bear in mind by telling your Landlord you're moving due to cost they "might" adjust the rent down, as keeping a good tenant is like gold dust. I know you're not calling their bluff and you absolutely have to move, but you can only ask, and have nothing to lose.

Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight · 05/09/2022 08:51

If you are renting privately (rather than Council/Housing Assosciation) I would double check that you only have to pay £500, it seems a very low amount to break a tenancy as the Landlord will incur extra costs to find a new tenant that are probably more than £500, especially if they are using a letting agent.

Cait73 · 05/09/2022 13:35

I moved my 2 year old he didn't even notice

As long as they have you and their toys they don't seem to care lol

RainingYetAgain · 05/09/2022 21:14

I agree that you need to check the contract carefully, you might be liable for the rent until the next tenant moves in, and the letting costs as well as the £500.

mummy203 · 06/09/2022 00:03

might be worth negotiating the £500. Offering to help with viewings if needing and leaving ready to rent straight out to save any down time for landlord. You can only ask?

Whiskers4 · 06/09/2022 08:15

Will you need a removal van? Also, will it cost you more in transport if you move? Those factors need to be brought into it. Children move all the time. When we moved, we decorated DDs room first so she had something to look forward to in new property if that's not an option, maybe a new picture/curtains/something else he can choose.

Original poster
Anon1218 · 06/09/2022 20:55

So after further investigation they have said that we may need to cover rent while they find a new tenant.. which could take a while at this rate with costs rising.

OP posts:
GetOffTheRoof · 06/09/2022 21:39

@Anon1218 depending on where you are, there may be no gap at all. In the SW they are frequently getting a hundred applications for every property.

Original poster
Anon1218 · 06/09/2022 22:14

SilentHedges · 05/09/2022 08:41

Also bear in mind by telling your Landlord you're moving due to cost they "might" adjust the rent down, as keeping a good tenant is like gold dust. I know you're not calling their bluff and you absolutely have to move, but you can only ask, and have nothing to lose.

We actually thought about this, maybe waiting until nearer the contract ending and then seeing if they budge. We’d stay here if it was around the 1600 mark.. they actually live on the same road so it’s in their interest to have great tenants which we are

OP posts:
PeekabooAtTheZoo · 07/09/2022 00:28

We were in a similar situation and just moved. Not 100% happy as we'll have to move again when we buy a house but at least we're not paying £1800 a month now, we're down to £900 (much smaller property though).

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 07/09/2022 00:31

It cost a bomb up front but the little ones settled into the new place after a week or two. They're fairly flexible at that age. IDK where you stand on the contract though, I had all sorts of early cancellation fees to pay for various stuff like the internet we'd just signed up for etc. We didn't just move to save money though so it was worth it for us.

Noname234 · 20/09/2022 09:19

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 07/09/2022 00:28

We were in a similar situation and just moved. Not 100% happy as we'll have to move again when we buy a house but at least we're not paying £1800 a month now, we're down to £900 (much smaller property though).

That’s a huge difference, I’m torn between moving ten mins away or moving back to our old town about 40 mins away which there are a lot cheaper options but not as good schools.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page