Landlord issues - what would you do?

[whyhasmyheadgonenumb]

Im having an issue with my landlord after they have messed me about a bit.

After 7 months living in my current house and hating it i had a look around for something else. I found a new place so rang the agent to give notice but it turns out i signed for 12 months not the 6 months i thought i had. I knew nothing of this and have lived in rented houses for 10 years having never signed a 12 month contract. I realised that this was my mistake and pleaded my case to the 'landlord' (not plural) via the estate agent. I received a phone call stating that she was desperate to get it on the market due to her divorce so would let me out with 6 weeks notice which i said i would send in writing. I took her word for it and asked for nothing in writing in return.

I paid £84 referencing fees for new house and all has been approved, moving date set for 6 weeks.

Today i get a call from estate agent stating that the other landlord Mr Husband (that i didnt know existed) wont agree to these terms and wont release me until end of 12 months in november. Gutted but know that if i signed 12 months then its legally binding and im stuck, ill either have to give up on new house or pay 2 lots of rent.

Im annoyed with landlord, why didnt they discuss this and now im the one in the shit without a leg to stand on - estate agent doesnt give a damn not that i expect them to. I love new house, truly better for me and kids after a few hard years and ive had a lovely pay rise so feel we deserve it.

I know i shouldnt but i feel bitter about it. The house is on the market and theres people sniffing about already, Can i refuse entry for viewings until the contract ends? Its so intrusive - I already allowed 3 other estate agents in the house to complete valuations, one of which was very rude and made me feel like having kids with toys meant my house was untidy - he refused to take photos and rang the owner in front of me stating my house had toys everywhere (they were in one of those plastic trug things, not a single toy on the floor) resulting in the letting agents carrying out an inspection at her request. My kids are 3 and 18 months, its hard to keep the place pristine but its clean and tidy. I allowed it because i thought we were both doing each other a favour.

I know i dont have a leg to stand on, im just being mean and you lot will think im stupid but i could cry

Have you checked your agreement?

I don't have a copy, was never sent one but have asked for one to he sent out. That's stupid of me I know but I was so desperate to move due to EA injust wanted the keys and I didn't read through the contract properly and check it.
I know it's my fault and that I'm liable until end of term I'm just annoyed that their non communication has got me in a mess and probably wrongly feel pissed off about it.

You should have been given two copies to sign, one of which was to keep.

Just out of interest, is your deposit with a protection company?

Who called you to confirm they would accept six weeks notice?
Was it the landlord herself or estate agent?
I don't see how they can go back on that verbal agreement.
I suggest you speak to the CAB for advice.

Yes deposit is In a scheme, I have that paperwork.
Estate agent range me, not landlord and I said the same thing - how can she change her mind but estate agent says both parties have to agree, shame they didn't tell me there were 2 parties In the first instance.

TBH I would just stick to your guns and leave. You won't get your deposit back but it's unlikely they will pursue you for unpaid rent, it won't be worth their while.

But get a copy of your lease before you go. Go into the estate agent and ask for a copy.

I think is be inclined to move to the new place and take the risk tbh. However I think I would also insist on my copy of the contract, just to see what the terms on it are, and to check who your landlord actually is. Theres a few too many different stories here to make me feel comfortable that they know what they're doing.

It will state in your contract that you have to allow viewings but in fact legally you are within your rights to say no. The estate agent may well know this, they'll never tell you and will tell you it's in your contract so tough. If I were you I'd send an email to the Ea saying that the viewings are intrusive and you feel they go against your right to quiet enjoyment and they must stop. You might find that this gives Mr Landlord the push needed to agree to the terms Mrs Landlord allowed.

If they can't have any viewings until you've left then they'll have a much longer period of time with no income from the house. However if they agreed to your leaving in six weeks in return for you allowing the viewings Afterall then they'd have a shorter time with no income and you'd have made a compromise in order tog et what you want.

I've been both Landlord and tenant, my tenant agreed to viewings in return for a rolling monthly tenancy as we were selling and she wanted to buy elsewhere. My landlord was a git and we did agree to viewings but the EA was so rude that after a while we stopped viewings, they couldn't do anything to force it.

I hardly slept last night I was so angry!!
I can't afford to move so ill lose my dream house :(

I'm going to get some advice about viewings definately and use the line 'quiet enjoyment' chumhum - I did some research on that last night and as I have small children ill definately be usi g that to my advantage, the valuations were intrusive enough.

Thank you all so much for your advice and help

My current estate agent won't release the landlord reference to my new estate agent because I'm not at the end of my tenancy - can they do that? Surely it's up to me if I want to pay 2 lots of rent? This is just getting more complicated. I'm not paying all the rent up front to my current kandlord but should I offer to pay a larger deposit or something to my new landlord? He will obviously be made aware of this problem so I'm trying to keep him sweet I guess.

Estate agebts rang up and said they were doing a viewing at 2.30 today - no 'is that ok' just we are doing it so that was the last straw - I've told the estate agents I'm not letting anyone in unless I get it in writing that I will be released by the first weekend in September. They were so shocked!!

I hate confrontation :(

you certainly can deny viewings, or any access except for emergency. Their house but your home. I see you've done that.

you signed a contract, and while the situation is unfortunate you still signed a contract and yes, you should have read it. Quite surprised you didn't even notice that there were two people's names in the 'landlord' space; which begs the question, were there two names? If not, then you only deal with the person who signed the agreement. Their argumentative divorce is not your problem in that case.

do not take the advice to leg it leaving unpaid rent, deposit or no. That will come back and bite you in the arse when you next need a reference.

I would never not pay my rent, my credit score is good and I intend to keep it that way. I don't recall 2 names on contract but to be honest it's irrelevant now anyway as they are both saying I can't move.
Estate agent is going to try to compromise with them as this buyer wants to buy the house but has agreed that I can refuse entry to house before 29th November.

you can indeed.

Hopefully the landlords will stop arguing long enough to see that there is a sensible solution that gives everyone what they want. You get out when you want, they sell the house quicker - seems a no-brainer, really!