Landlord issues - need help

[whyhasmyheadgonenumb]

Fear this may be long, sorry.

Back story - moved into house and signed 12 month lease. Hate it here so emailed estate agents asking if there was a break clause In Contract and if not could they ask landlord if I could be released early, knowing I would have to pay rent until new tenant moved in. Phone call from them to say actually yes, landlord desperate to sell due to divorce so please give 6 weeks notice. Got nothing in writing.
Find new house, pay for application and set moving date for 6 weeks, ring current estate agents to speak to person I agreed this with to give notice and he's away on A/L for 3 weeks so tell person i was then speaking to all info, she says she will ask landlords.

Have 3 valuers round at great inconvenience.

Landlords refute all this and say I will not be released early, basically call me a liar. Funnily enough female landlord agreed I could go, male landlord now saying this but they are joint on contract so need both to agree.

So, I'm upset and say fine but no-one is coming into my house until end of tenancy then as I am within my rights to do and estate agent agreed that I can do that, right of quiet enjoyment. Viewings are booked (apparently) so I ask them to cancel them.

Anyway, I still want new house so go through outgoings and decide I can afford to pay for both houses as it will only be 2 months I'm paying 2 sets of rent (with help from parents) I ring estate agents of new house and they ask for landlord reference. I ring current estate agents and they happily take the £25 fee then want it in writing that I will continue to pay rent on this place until end of contract, which I do.

Guess what, landlord refusing reference. Can I do anything about that? I have paid every rent payment early, have not breached my contract and have passed 6 month inspection so there is no reason for them to surely? Do I need legal advice? I'm a single mother if 2 and fear I can't afford it.
If they give me a bad reference - which they have no reason to but I fear they will be difficult - not only will I be homeless at end of tenancy but I won't be able to get another rental again!! I can understand they are annoyed I'm refusing entry for viewings but why should they have their cake and eat it? I didn't get that 6 week notice thing from nowhere and it's noty fault their colleague is on A/L.

I can't sleep with worry.

Bump?

confused - very similar thread in the last day or so. Are you the same person?

giving a bad reference for something you haven't done would mean you could take action. No reference (i.e. saying nothing) shouldn't be a problem. Just tell the new landlord what has happened. The reference of value is that of the landlord before the last one (if you see what I mean) - but you may not have that.

ask to speak to your prospective new landlord, not the agent.

Yes apologies but thought legal issues would be more appropriate for this now.
I don't have a previous landlord, always lived in houses with ex as tenant and me not named. Did have mortgage but sold house and paid it off in 2011.

thought so, not everyone has a previous reference for the kind of perfectly good reasons that you mention.

as mentioned, ask to speak/meet with the prospective new landlord, discuss the situation. Treat it as an interview to get a house rather than a job. Sell yourself as a good tenant; things like non-smoker, financially able to afford, knows how to run and look after a home (i.e. will tell them if something needs fixing), ideally no pets etc etc.

trying to get legal with your current landlords for a reference will just waste money. Work round it.

good luck.

Agree with special. My son had a problem with his previous landlord ( long story..different thread) but was honest with the prospective new landlord and explained the issues. He's very happy in his new house.