Landlord BU?

[KarmaWhore]

Sorry not sure if this is the right area for this but not brave enough for AIBU.

Basically, I moved in to a terraced rental house in August. It's a 2 bedroom in a good area, accepted pets, etc. I was under pressure to move because the rental I was in before I moved had rising damp and I was 8 months pregnant with DD.

So once I had moved in I realised there was a lot wrong with the house, Mould on front and back door, old style boiler system, fireplace in living room not working, needs a lick of paint, every room apart from living room needs plastered and re decorated, mould on all windows, windows and doors desperately needing replaced (house is freezing), carpet on stairs is peeling off, needs new bathroom and kitchen, etc.

Aswell as this our next door neighbours kept parking over the drive and were aggressive towards us. So we decided after 4 months we wanted to move as we were just so unhappy and I did try to make the most of it, bought new carpet for one of the rooms that would be my daughters as old carpet was stinking, wet and outdated, repainted that room and bathroom.

A house came up across the road that is semi detached, bigger drive, nice interior, relatively new windows and doors, etc so we viewed it and decided to take it. I messaged my landlord who seemed angry and upset we were leaving after just 4 months. I said I was sorry and that we just hadn't been able to settle.

Anyway fast forward to now and last week I said we would be moving out on the 31st of January and landlord said ok fine. Then today I get a text from her saying,

Hi KarmaWhore, I've given your phone number to rental agents they may want to come and take a few photos I'm sure they'll phone you first to check it's ok to come thanks

I feel really uncomfortable with my furniture being on a website and also that she said "I'm sure they'll phone you first to check it's ok" I felt like replying actually if they don't phone first then they aren't coming in. Can't they just wait until we've moved out?

Sorry it's long winded just didn't want to drip feed. Thank you for reading.

Did you not go and look at the house first? All those problems sound like they would have been very obvious to see when you viewed the property?
Also are you being charged for leaving your contract early? I'm presuming it was a 6 month initial lease.
Of course he needs the letting agent to take pictures, he needs to advertise the property ASAP to get somebody in for when you leave, he won't be able to afford to wait until you have moved out. Nobody is going to care about your furniture trust me. With regards to informing you when they are coming, I'm sure they will as if they just show up they risk you not being at home.
They'll also more than likely do an end of tenancy inspection also and may ask you to return the room you have decorated to how it was when you took on the tenancy.

How long was your lease? You are legally liable for the rent until the end of the contract, until there is a new tenant in the property.
However, I myself have left a tenancy early due to problems and I did not pay it as the landlord had also broken the contract and it wasn't legitimate.
I would let them in to take photos. You will be gone soon enough.

Yes I did but a lot of these problems weren't obvious actually and were quite well hidden also had pressure to move as didn't want my baby in the old house. My sister viewed it with me and also didn't notice anything untoward I could see it needed a lock of pain and that's it. They won't ask me to return the room the way it was because the room stank of a weird smell which turned out to be the old carpet which is now gone. A brand new one is in there we've only made improvements to the property and they said we could do what we wanted to it. I don't want my stuff online I live In a small town.

Sorry forgot to say only had to give a months notice.

Don't make it harder than it needs to be. So what if your furniture is online.
Let the landlord do what needs to be done to rent the place and get out ASAP.

@BlueJag they would only have to wait until the 21st plus my other half works 13 hour shifts and I'm alone with the baby most of time making it difficult to absolutely blitz he whole place for the standard they will want.

You possibly have a clause in your contract saying you need to allow access but regardless its quite unreasonable to expect the landlord to lose a months income regardless of the condition of the house. Just tidy up for the pictures no one cares about your furniture!

Don't make it harder than it needs to be. So what if your furniture is online.
Let the landlord do what needs to be done to rent the place and get out ASAP.

This.

What do you think will happen if people see photos of your furniture online? The furniture perv is going to copy them and have a wank over
how nice your sofa is??

@SushiMonster yes that's exactly it!! THE HORROR!!! 😱😱😱

Also don't know what will be appealing about rooms with loads of boxes of stuff everywhere...

You’re pretty lucky the landlords have let you leave after four months, you’re probably contracted to six minimum. In return let them take a few photos. They could just do the kitchen and bathroom just to give viewers an idea?

No it's in the tenancy agreement we only have to give 28 days notice.

Landlord isn’t bu to ask but neither are you to say no, I’m a LL and I’ve never expected a tenant to do this, you have a right to quiet enjoyment of the property, can’t LL advertise with previous pictures, property can’t be that much different?

If it is an AST the minimum term is 6 months, with notice. Are you certain you will not be liable for February's rent unless he can relet straightaway. You do not have to allow access for photos, viewings etc. Might be worth checking with Shelter how to approach this.

If it's as bad as you say I wouldn't let them in. Letting agency could just use the photos from the previous advert from 4 months ago.

Why can’t they just use photos from when it was advertised to you? You are allowed to say no, in which case contact agent to let them know before they bother coming round.

Another AIBU where most people say yes but OP doesn't believe them. Why bother asking?

Please double check your tenancy agreement tho, the 28 days notice doesn’t tend to come into force until after the initial 6 months so yo7 could be liable for the full 6 months’ rent.

You may be able to give a months notice but how long was your contract for? When you rent a property you normally sign a minimum term to protect both you and your landlord.
I am renting a property, it has a 12 month lease, then it goes on to a rolling contract. So if I want to leave, I have to stay till it's been 12 months, then after that give a months notice.
Your landlord can ask you for rent up till the end of the contract, unless they are willing to terminate it early on their choice.

Are you in Scotland OP? I know my Dd and her boyfriend were told by their letting agent last year that they're free to give 28days notice at any point, in their tenancy, even within the first 6 months. The laws in Scotland appear to have changed in recent times.

I found this link which supports and explains this..
www.clangordon.co.uk/blog/tenants/the-private-residential-tenancy-5-key-changes-for-edinburgh-tenants/

If the LL is releasing you from your tenancy obligations early, i.e. you're not having to pay six months' rent although you are leaving early, then it would demonstrate goodwill to let the EA take photos for marketing. However you are under no obligation to let them do so, whatever might be written into the tenancy agreement.

The relevant part..

*2. Increased flexibility of tenure

In addition to increased security of tenure, removing the end date from tenancies also means that tenants have greater flexibility and control over the length of their tenancy. Tenants can now give 28 days’ notice to leave at any point from the start date of the tenancy.

Under the short assured tenancy regime tenants were tied in to a property for an initial fixed term, which was a minimum of 6 months. This meant that tenants could potentially have to stay in an unsuitable or substandard property for a minimum of 6 months before they could move out. By removing the minimum term, the Scottish Government hopes that rogue landlords will be encouraged to bring their rental properties up to standard in a bid to secure long term tenants, benefiting both tenants and the lettings industry in general. *

Yes sorry I am in Scotland. I'm just going to ask the other landlord if I can put some stuff In the garage of the new house. It's a total faff but I don't want everyone looking at my belongings. I definitely only have to give 28 days notice.

It didn't originally go through a letting agency. They asked their previous tenant to find someone and it was on a sales and wants page.

I would just say no if it's not suitable to you, although there are plenty of landlords who show photos of 'lived-in' houses and all they do is note on the advert that a tenant is currently in place.