Any landlords on MN? I have a quick question..

[Iamawomenphenominally]

I'm a private rental tenant. Been in current home 7 years.

My estate agents who manage the house changed a few years ago and the current EA are always very keen to get me to signal a new 12 month tenancy, whereas the old ea (and ones at other houses I've rented before this one) always just let it go to rolling.

I've recently had the annual email saying rent is going up, and would you be wanting another fixed term tenancy.

I replied saying that's fine about the rent increase but would prefer to let it go onto a rolling tenancy rather than fixed. I've since had two emails, and two calls about it asking why. The first email and call insinuating the landlady might refuse and it might affect her mortgage ( I know the house isn't mortgaged but they don't know I know this, the EA might not even know), the second saying she's open to it but wants to know why as there may be ramifications.

If you are a landlord/landlady, are rolling tenancy contracts bad? Does it have any downsides to you??

I suspect the EA charges a fee for each new fixed term tenancy but it's just a suspicion based on how persistently they go about them every year.

I have no plans to move in the next few months, and can pass this on the landlady but I don't want to give more personal information than that.

I pay rent on time, keep house in good condition etc.

Much prefer a rolling contract as it gives flexibility on both sides.

I suspect you may be right about the agent wanting to charge fees for a renewal. I would state that you are happy to discuss directly with the landlord about why they would prefer a fixed term and why you prefer a rolling. I'm sure it wouldn't be as much as an issue as the agent is making out.

As a landlord I suspect a greedy estate agent.

They recently tried to charge me £130 to check the tenants right to rent... this involved looking at their passports.

The agents want the fees. I'm a landlord, and I'd prefer a steady tenant.

I don’t like rolling tenancy agreements as prefer to have the commitment- but I don’t use an agent.
I wouldn’t lose a good tenant over it, if they wanted rolling it would be ok. Rolling will become the default anyway.

I need to increase my tenants rent which I hate doing, and would prefer it if they did another year but if they don’t want to that’s fine.

I recently agreed to a rolling contract on a property I rent out after the end of the tenants first year there on a fixed term contract. I was charged a fee by the estate agents for the renewal, they moved out a few months later and I then had a another fee for setting up the contract with the new tenants. So yes, it can work out more costly for the landlord. And I much prefer the certainty of a fixed term contract

if you are fine with the LL evicting you at any time with 60days notice or are planning to move in the next year, then a rolling tenancy is for you. If you want the certainty of a roof over your head for the next year, then the 12 month fixed tenancy is better for you.

from LL perspective, they prefer the certainty of a tenant who has committed to a year, one year at a time to a tenant that could decide to leave with only 30 days notice.

(the notice periods are the AST standards where I am. It differs in different parts of the U.K.)

I would state that you are happy to discuss directly with the landlord about why they would prefer a fixed term and why you prefer a rolling.

As a LL who uses a management agency, wouldn't talk to you. I pay the agency because I don't want a personal relationship with my tenants.
I'd prefer a contract that renews periodically, so it's a definite decision on both sides every so often to continue the rental, and an opt out opportunity for both parties.
I'd be prepared for this to be less often than every 12 months however.

How can you know the LL finances for certain. They may have remortgaged. Mortgage lenders require 12month ASTs, not longer, not rolling contracts.