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Original poster

Landlord wants us out early

38 replies

Applefruitcake · 25/01/2026 12:16

Our landlord has given us notice to move out early (they were living abroad and now want to move back.) Our rental agreement is until August 2026 so technically they are breaking the agreement, right? What are our rights in this case? What happens if we don't find a new place to rent in time? Can we ask for some kind of compensation to cover moving costs?

Thank you in advance for any advice offered

OP posts:
HighStreetOtter · 27/01/2026 07:26

Tell them no. They’ll have to rent themselves until you move out at the end of your agreed tenancy.

BeefAndHorseradishSandwich · 27/01/2026 08:17

You’re in the right OP, just stay put. If they tried to get bailiffs round, firstly it would take you way past August anyway (due to needing to go to court) and more importantly, they are in the wrong for trying to get you out early. Just keep paying the rent and you’ll be fine. His problem isn’t your problem.

redboxer321 · 27/01/2026 08:30

Honestly OP, there is no need to get a lawyer as was suggested upthread! You'd have a decent deposit to buy a place for the price of a lawyer. Well maybe not but it makes the point.
It'll be two months notice after the fixed term, so October in your case.
But chat with your landlord, they may be willing to give you some money for moving out early. Might not be what you want to do but worth asking.

For future reference, a break clause is put in really plain language. Something like this: tenancy is for a 12 month period with a 6 month break clause. It's really clear so pretty sure you don't have one.

Cyclistmumgrandma · 27/01/2026 08:48

We were landlords in this position. We were moving back from abroad. We let our tenants know we wanted to move in to our house and asked them to look for somewhere else. We made it plain that if they found somewhere before the end of the fixed term we would, of course, not expect them to pay rent after moving out and we ensured we had a backup plan of somewhere temporary for us if we needed to wait.

Rayqueen2026 · 27/01/2026 08:54

Personally having been in this situation in our last house we decided to move to save problems on the agreement we got a good reference and full refund of deposit bond etc back...Which we did and moved very nice and smoothly to our now house

Kimura · 27/01/2026 10:08

redboxer321 · 27/01/2026 08:30

Honestly OP, there is no need to get a lawyer as was suggested upthread! You'd have a decent deposit to buy a place for the price of a lawyer. Well maybe not but it makes the point.
It'll be two months notice after the fixed term, so October in your case.
But chat with your landlord, they may be willing to give you some money for moving out early. Might not be what you want to do but worth asking.

For future reference, a break clause is put in really plain language. Something like this: tenancy is for a 12 month period with a 6 month break clause. It's really clear so pretty sure you don't have one.

It'll be two months notice after the fixed term, so October in your case.

This is not correct. The landlord does not have to wait until the fixed term expires to give notice.

Landlords can end a tenancy at the end of the fixed term either by mutual agreement with the tenant or by serving a valid Section 21 notice, usually a minimum of two months prior to the end of the fixed term.

redboxer321 · 27/01/2026 11:57

Kimura · 27/01/2026 10:08

It'll be two months notice after the fixed term, so October in your case.

This is not correct. The landlord does not have to wait until the fixed term expires to give notice.

Landlords can end a tenancy at the end of the fixed term either by mutual agreement with the tenant or by serving a valid Section 21 notice, usually a minimum of two months prior to the end of the fixed term.

Show quote history

Apologies. @Kimura is correct. The notice can come inside the fixed term. Sorry for confusion; I was in fact talking out of my arse on that bit

Nearly50omg · 27/01/2026 12:51

Cyclistmumgrandma · 27/01/2026 08:48

We were landlords in this position. We were moving back from abroad. We let our tenants know we wanted to move in to our house and asked them to look for somewhere else. We made it plain that if they found somewhere before the end of the fixed term we would, of course, not expect them to pay rent after moving out and we ensured we had a backup plan of somewhere temporary for us if we needed to wait.

You should have paid for their removal costs too as you put them out!

Redflagsabounded · 29/01/2026 06:04

Cyclistmumgrandma · 27/01/2026 08:48

We were landlords in this position. We were moving back from abroad. We let our tenants know we wanted to move in to our house and asked them to look for somewhere else. We made it plain that if they found somewhere before the end of the fixed term we would, of course, not expect them to pay rent after moving out and we ensured we had a backup plan of somewhere temporary for us if we needed to wait.

No wonder people hate landlords. You think you were being generous not to expect them to continue paying rent after they very kindly moved out early so you could move in? Fucking hell.

eurochick · 29/01/2026 13:02

Cyclistmumgrandma · 27/01/2026 08:48

We were landlords in this position. We were moving back from abroad. We let our tenants know we wanted to move in to our house and asked them to look for somewhere else. We made it plain that if they found somewhere before the end of the fixed term we would, of course, not expect them to pay rent after moving out and we ensured we had a backup plan of somewhere temporary for us if we needed to wait.

Very generous of you….

Nearly50omg · 07/04/2026 20:46

Cyclistmumgrandma · 27/01/2026 08:48

We were landlords in this position. We were moving back from abroad. We let our tenants know we wanted to move in to our house and asked them to look for somewhere else. We made it plain that if they found somewhere before the end of the fixed term we would, of course, not expect them to pay rent after moving out and we ensured we had a backup plan of somewhere temporary for us if we needed to wait.

You should have paid all their moving costs and other costs too!

caringcarer · 07/04/2026 20:49

WallaceinAnderland · 25/01/2026 15:48

If there is no break clause then they cannot repossess the property before the date of the end of the tenancy agreement and even then they need to serve you a Section 21 notice, usually 1 month before the end of the tenancy agreement, or if it goes over that date they can serve any time but would still need to give you 1 months notice.

So, if no break clause, they need to serve the Section 21 notice in July if they want you out in August. They cannot make you leave in April.

There will be no more section 21 after April 30th.

caringcarer · 07/04/2026 20:53

Cyclistmumgrandma · 27/01/2026 08:48

We were landlords in this position. We were moving back from abroad. We let our tenants know we wanted to move in to our house and asked them to look for somewhere else. We made it plain that if they found somewhere before the end of the fixed term we would, of course, not expect them to pay rent after moving out and we ensured we had a backup plan of somewhere temporary for us if we needed to wait.

Why would they ever think they'd have to pay rent after you asked them to leave early?

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