Dispute with landlord, where do we stand?

[KellyKettle]

We're renting our house from a large hotel chain (former staff housing). We've had problems going back to May which have not been resolved, the biggest being mould growing on the walls.

I have a two DDs - 2.9 and 3 weeks. I am not happy with them being in a mouldy house and have requested that we leave our contract early. We've found another house which won't be available for long I suspect.

The landlord has agreed but says that we can't leave until January so they can carry out the maintenance work and find new tenants. Works required: new boiler (involves removing lower kitchen cupboards/kickboards), new shower, new electricity circuit board, mould treated, new built in fridge.

I dont want this to take place while I'm trying to care for a newborn & toddler - too much disruption for us to stay home and nowhere to go while they do work. Plus - why should I? I have made myself available every week since May at least.

Lastly, although we agreed to a new contract in April thus year we didn't actually sign & return it. Does this make it easier for us to leave?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

If you haven't signed a new fixed contract it becomes a rolling contract so you may be able to give as little just one month's notice(check the terms in case it is longer or can only be issued on a particular date of the month), assuming the original was an Assured Shorthold tenancy. Shelter or CAB should be able to advise specifically.

Thanks LIZS I'll give them a call on Monday. That sounds promising though