Can I have some advice please?

[Flossam]

Ahhh another rental contract nightmare. Basically, our contract runs out on May the 8th. DH applied for a job which implied that it started in March, but then got a start date of the 9th of Jan. The original plan was that I would stay here and see out the contract and he would travel back and forth from London to Bristol.

Anyhow, we have managed to push back the date till the end of Jan. I have phoned the letting agents and basically the deal is, we have to pay about 85 pounds a month in management fees, but if no new tenant is found, we are liable for the rent up until the end of the contract, totally over £2250. Then, even if the flat isn't let, we are still liable for paying the 300 odd quid for management fees on top. So therefore, more than we would be paying in the first place.

The flat is nice, clean, modern and tidy. We're going to get the carpets cleaned and I'm trying to convince DP we should re paint the lounge. There is no reason why the flat shouldn't re let reasonably quickly, but obviously it is a huge risk. If we don't go to Bristol it means we have brought a car for no reason and are missing out on what we both really want.

Feeling quite miserable especially as I have jumped the gun and been looking at houses.

Sorry Floss confused.... paying management contract after tenancy expires? Have you checked for that in your initial contract? Sounds odd.

You'd probably find a tenant wouldn't you, with a spruce up? Has the letting agency given you ideas what to realistically expect?

Sorry I don't understand - why are you paying management agency fees since these are normally payable by the landlord not tenant and factored into the rent. Are you on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, the first 6 months of which expires on May 8th ? After the first 6 months I understood you could go onto a notice period, usually one to two months, rather than be tied into a fixed term. Really don't undertand where the final £300 payment comes in. Can you get CAB to check the terms of the lease ?.

Dh found a new job in the march(with immediate start, our contract ran out a few months later. I didnt fancy hanging around with 3 kids on me own, whilst dh was 110 miles away.
We approached letting agent , who agreed if they could find tenants,we would only be liable up until the new people moved in. No extra fee's thank god. They luckily found new tenats withinb a week or so!

Sorry, to try and make it clearer. We have to pay rent up untill new tenants are found. We are on a years contract. We will be looking to leave here about 3 months early, we can't manage for that long with DP commuting on his days off, his pay will be substantially less and I will be able to do less shifts. so basically by leaving early, we are responsible for all rent up untill a new tenant is found or untill the end of the contract, which ever is the earlier. We will also be responsible for paying the management fees from when we leave untill the end of the original tenancy regardless. So we are looking at around £830 a month instead of £750 when already we will not be able to afford our rent taking into account our wages, let alone for the new place we will be living (hopefully).

I'm no lawyer but that doesn't sound right. So basically you would pay that money and the new tennant (I assume) will be doing it to so they get double the money!?!?!

Are you sure this lease is legal ? Doesn't sound standard to me.

Yup. Am kind of hoping though, that as money grabbing gits it might mean they are still motivated to find a new tenant. If not, where is the motivation?

Big east London chain. Can't imagine it's not.

My mother works for the cab so if you like I could ask her about wether this is legally allowable.

If you speak to her, that would be great CM, but please only if you think of it when you're with her. I'm pretty sure its allowable, what's in the contract goes really dosen't it, especially once we've signed it. The thing I really hate about these type of things is they produce you with this huge document to try and digest and read while you are sat opposite this person wishing you would get on with it. I can never concentrate on it. Would have signed it in good faith probably anyway, as Avon and Somerset recruiting is something of a rarity so had no idea it would happen this way.

There are such things as unfair contracts, though. Might be worth giving trading standards a call.

Good luck with the new job for dh, btw! (Keep your fingers crossed my dh gets one, won't you? He's redundant...)

Flossam are you sure there isn't a 6 month bbreak in the contract? That's normal to me.

No MB< they checked for that yesterday. Oh Edam, I'm sorry I didn't know that. I hope he does find one soon. I've got to try and find a new one if we definately decide to go ahead with leaving in Jan. Have seen one advertised which, although it might be a bit of a stretch for me, I have almost all of what they are asking for, so what the hell! Must remember to ring tomorrow.

Floss, can't help with the contract, although it does sound a bit odd to me, but was wondering if you are getting any financial help with relocation?

No, fraid not. Avon and somerset are quite often oversubscribed, DP was lucky to get the transfer. Was clearly stated on interview letter no relocation package.

That's a shame.