Landlord wants keys back early

[Backpackbackpack26]

We are ftb and got the keys last week, we moved the most of the stuff out of the rental property yesterday and up to the new house. Yesterday get a text of landlord (someone else much have said cos we didn’t inform them) asking if we have moved out, yes will be back tomorrow (meaning today) to get the rest of the stuff. We are still paying rent on the rented property til the middle of July as we wanted to be able to move stuff up to new house and clean without being in a rush, she is texting this morning to ask for keys back today or sooner than the leaving date we stated. Just wondering if she can do this, we weren’t planning on cleaning rented house til next weekend, just wondering if anyone knows if we are in the right to do this?

No, she can’t do this. Just say no, and that keys will be returned at the end of the tenancy.

You don’t have to give the keys back until your tenancy ends. She has no right to ask for them back earlier than you intended.

If you are still paying rent then you should not hand back the keys until your final day. Have you rented directly or via an agency?

Does it suit you to return them early? She can’t have them without your agreement but would she refund the rent for the early return?

The short answer is no. Your landlord is out of order and hasn't a legal leg to stand on.

Can’t imagine she has the right to require it. If you will have moved everything out anyway by tomorrow, you could say that she can have them back as long as she waives any cleaning fee and refunds you for the 2 weeks you’ve paid for.

Nope, that is your house until the last date on your Tenancy agreement.
The LL can't enter without giving you 24 hours notice and all your rights etc as per your contract apply until your Tenancy agreement ends.
If the LL wants full access earlier they can ask you to give up your Tenancy early with appropriate rent rebate of course

No don't give keys back until the date that you gave as your leaving date.

No, you keep the keys until the end of the tenancy. Unless she wants to negotiate an early end date and repay the relevant portion of rent.

Just say 'Our tenancy ends on X date and we will return the keys then. Until that date we expect our legal rights as tenants to be observed. If you need to access the property, please contact me in advance in line with the law.'

I would write back that you are paying rent until x date and will return the keys and the property on this date unless she would like to negotiate an earlier end to the tenancy. Then if she is desperate to get it earlier she can ask and if you agree, return some rent.

The keys are yours up until the day that your rental agreement runs out - you are paid up till then. If you end up moving your stuff across sooner you could ask to negotiate some rent back from her if it would help to have a bit more cash. Otherwise stick to your guns because she is being cheeky. I am guessing she wants to get in to the property and start making it ready for the next tenancy sooner rather than later. But you’ve got two weeks already paid so she can’t make you surrender the keys or move sooner than agreed.

If you are ready, you can hand them back, for a discount on the last months rent.

To give the landlord the benefit of the doubt perhaps she thinks you’re wanting to return the keys sooner.

I’d just reply and say there’s no change of plan and you’ll be returning the keys on X date at the end of the tenancy.

If you had back the keys you won't be able to do end of tenancy clean so she may charge you for that.

Just say, we intend to end tenancy on x date and return keys then. Prior to that we will have house cleaned as required by the contract and hand over keys at the check out (assume you have one?)

Hi landlord
We will be using the flat until the end of our tenancy & will return the keys to you/agent, as agreed, on x date.
If it is important to you to have access early, 2 weeks is £× rent - if you transfer that to our account we could vacate early.
Regards

I'd pop in daily if possible and ensure no-one is entering or using the property

I would swap cleaning for an early handover
Offer to give them now if they waive the need to clean- get it in writing.
You will also get your deposit back earlier.

I’m a landlord. No, the landlord can’t insist on having keys back prior to end of tenancy.

If you want to return them early and negotiate a rent rebate, that’s up to you. You could also request - in writing - to be released from the professional clean if the LL wants keys back.

But she cannot force you to return them.

Text back that you are paying rent till (date) and have full occupation rights for the property until that date including the right to refuse her access except in the event of an emergency. She can't have the keys back early as you are planning to do the end of tenancy cleaning during the couple of days before the end date.

You could consider surrendering the tennancy a week early if she puts it in writing that she waives any right to claim against your deposit for any lack of cleaning because she's taking your cleaning time away.

Make sure you do this in writing (phone texts are fine) to ensure you can prove it in the event if dispute

It could be worth your while to negotiate a rent refund and/or be let off the cleaning, so maybe worth asking! But otherwise no the keys are yours until the end of your agreement.

No, this isn’t right.

You and the landlord can end the tenancy (both fixed-term and periodic) by agreement but only if both sides agree and you move out on the mutually agreed date. But they can’t just demand you move out.

The problem is, they may change their mind as to ending it by agreement and the tenancy will continue until it’s ended legally.

If you have a periodic tenancy, it can be ended legally in the following ways:

1. the landlord has to give you a valid section 21 notice and get a court order if you’re still there after the notice expires
2. you can give a valid notice to quit (usually a month’s long minimum, in line with tenancy period, expires on the first or last day of your tenancy period, in writing)

If it’s a fixed-term agreement (for a set period of time) it might be difficult to end it early any other way but by agreement. Check your contract to see if there is a clause allowing early termination.

Nope... your paid up to whatever date and that's when you hand over the keys... they more thank likely will already have a new tennant who the might lose cos of cheekiness and greed

If you have finished moving and cleaning and it suits you, say you will return on x date for a refund of your tenancy of x amount. If not keep the keys until the last day

thanks for the advice everyone, she has now said she is worried about leaving the house empty while we are moved while/ before she get the keys back, which I get. But I fell like she wants to keep the rent and have the keys back

Just say no, this is ridiculous. Tell her you will be there every day anyway moving the rest of your stuff and cleaning.

Or ask her to put it in writing that the tenency will end 2 weeks early or whatever if it suits you and that she will refund you 2 weeks rent.