How to get out of a signed tenancy with an abusive partner

[Wallflowerfire]

I have signed and paid a deposit for a 12 month tenancy agreement with someone who has turned out to be abusive. As in - people in a restaurant intervened as it was so blatant. I am due to move in next week. Can I get out of it?
(Posted in money but thought I'd post here too)

Yes but you will lose your deposit.

I don't mind losing £800 if it means I don't have to pay 12x 500 for the next year.

If you haven't even moved in yet then yeah I would think so. Explain to the estate agent what has happened. You will likely lose the deposit but like you said, better than having to pay the lot.

How on earth did this come about?
Take it as a lesson not to move in with someone so fast in future I guess. Good thing you realised before you moved in!

Depending on the wording of the Tenancy agreement you may be jointly liable so if you cancel and he moves in he will be responsible for all the rent
The only issue with that (other than him possibly being very annoyed and hassling you) is that if he stops paying you may still be jointly liable for the rent
As I said, it will depend on the Tenancy agreement

It is a joint tenancy so I am responsible for half. I said I only wanted to sign up for a 6 month tenancy but he convinced me to do a 12 month.
I had concerns, but the flip side was he seemed absolutely devoted to me... gifts, attention... emotional support. But it came with a side of drunken aggression.

I’m not a legal expert but I do review Tenancy agreements sometimes as part of my job.
If you are jointly liable then it’s more difficult. The Tenancy has been granted based on both your incomes I imagine and even if the LL will agree to take you off you would probably need your ex’s agreement to do it. He would probably need a new Tenancy, assuming he’s earns enough to do it on his own.

Cut your losses.

When I left my x (for the second time) I had to leave with a debt of about 700 on my credit card. I'm still glad I got away though. That debt was designed to keep me with him. I had had a card in his name until I left the first time, he talked me in to returning (big mistake obviously) then he got me a card in my own name which he was to settle but he never completely settled it, leaving me in the position of knowing that when I escaped, it'd be with a debt.

Sometimes you have to accept the loss.

That was 12 years ago now. oBVIOUSLY the debt is paid off a long time now.

that sounds like love bombing. glad you saw the light.

First of all there is no tenancy until one of you moves in. There does however exist a contract, the terms and conditions of which are laid out in the agreement which is legally binding. However the landlord can alter those terms by agreement. This is one of those situations where you need them on side, because the ll could hold you to the contract for which you would both jointly or severally be liable for the whole term. The landlord is unlikely to want to take a profit hit, so you really need to negotiate, preferably with the ll not the agent. If it were my property I would immediately put it back on the market and only charge you my losses. So you do need to contact them asap. It is tricky letting at xmas and new year but if it's an easy to let property that will help. If this isn't clear do post again.