Landlord request feels unfair

[Uberbeeboo]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice about our rights as tenants. We have lived in our rental property for coming up to 5 years and were made aware in March our landlord wanted to sell when our tenancy ended on 31st august 2024.

We therefore purchased a new build property which we believed would have been built by now, however we now have been given the completion date of 30th September 2024.

Today we asked the estate agent who manages our property if we can stay until our new property is ready to move into and they have responded with an ultimatum saying we can stay, but there will be a £400 increase of the rent per month starting next week when the rent is due.

The rental house is not sold and we've only done 2 viewings since April. We've been good tenants and were disappointed we had to move anyway. We really can't afford an extra £400 next week, so I was hoping if someone would kindly give me a little guidance with this please?

This is my worry in a nutshell. I'll give him a further nudge to confirm if someone will be attending check out and if not, that will then be part of my complaint too.

@Uberbeeboo Sorry to hear things are delayed. I have said this before, do not contact the agent at all - you have until 30th September to vacate the rental. Use the time to badger the builders of your new home, in a nice way but you need to make them very aware you need to move before 30th September.

As others have said nothing will happen on 20th September, the agent is just using bullying tactics. If anything is received, get your solicitor to respond.

Easy to say try not to worry, but try not to worry, you are nearly there!

Hi schloss, you've been around since I started posting about this weeks ago hahah.

I gave notice to leave on 30th sept because I was confident/naive we'd have moved. I didn't want to risk being bound to another month's rent.

It's not over yet though, I'm sure I'll be contacted by the developer by Friday. If there's further delay I'd rather stay in a caravan than stay here.

The dreaded 20th is looming, and I don't know what I'm expecting to even happen.

@Uberbeeboo House buying and selling is a stressful time, add in your issues with the agent/rental and you have really been dealt a bad hand! You will get there though and it will all be a distant memory once you arrive in your new home.

Tomorrow, I would go and see your new home again, speak to the builders etc and maybe tack the attitude of, "I will get my solicitor to transfer funds for completion on XX date as you remember my last date for moving is getting closer". I would also plan to do something tomorrow so you are not just waiting for something from your agent - it is not worth the hassle.

I am sure me and others on this thread will be very happy when you post to say you have the keys, have completed and handed back the rental keys soyou can put this all behind you.

Tomorrow, I would go and see your new home again, speak to the builders etc and maybe tack the attitude of, "I will get my solicitor to transfer funds for completion on XX date as you remember my last date for moving is getting closer".

This isn't possible though. You can't unilaterally decide a completion date and your mortgage co won't release funds on that basis.

Your builder could be more helpful

before you leave the old place make sure you take photos of exactly how you left it

remember that you only need to return it in the same condition you received it in. If it was professionally cleaned, do that. Get receipt to prove payment.

If not, clean it to a decent standard yourself

If you have a check in report - this is your guide. compare everything to that. This is what the tenacy deposit dispute people will go by.

Stay calm. You are not doing anything wrong or unlawful. the rights are on your side

They're certainly not making it easy for me. Just an approximate date will do.

If you read the thread, it is a means to encouraging the builders to chivvy along with the date - I, and @Uberbeeboo is perfectly aware it is the solicitors who sort completion/funds out.

I've read the thread and been involved in it from the start. Suggesting something nonsensical isn't going to speed things up. She'll just look clueless.

@NoWordForFluffy Everyone has different ways of trying to achieve an aim - how you would do something and how I would is obviously not the same, the most important person here is @Uberbeeboo chooses to act.

@Uberbeeboo I almost don’t want to ask how things are going, but I will. Any news?

I'd love to say I'm further forward, but I can't. I'm hoping to hear something tomorrow as I was told I'd hear last week. I'm absolutely ready to move at short notice if needs be.

Hope you get good news tomorrow

did anything happen on the 20th ?

Not that I know of. The agent may have went for the possession order but it'll be months before that comes through. It's gone completely quiet. We need a proper checkout on the 30th, but nobody's been in touch about it.

I hope so too. I just want to know one way or another.

Fingers crossed for you x

Fingers crossed 🤞 OP x

We've had an email from the estate agents this afternoon.

We do not appear to have received keys for the property which should now be vacant.

I will be inspecting the property at 2.30pm tomorrow to ensure that the property has been vacated. If you are still present in the property, our client will issue court proceedings to ensure that they can legally regain possession of the property, using bailiffs if necessary.

As previously advised, you will be liable for costs should this be necessary.

I sincerely hope that this escalation will not be necessary but will reiterate that this situation has arisen solely as a result of your actions

His client wants to waste money when you're moving out by the 30th?

Don't let him in.

I've also just heard from my solicitor too. Completion is on Monday. I feel sick and happy at the same time.

He really is an arsehole. Are you able to double lock the doors or be home tomorrow to make sure he doesn't let himself in?

I think I'd reply something brief along the lines of

"As per my previous correspondence rent has been paid until 30th of September and we will vacate on or before that date. We are still awaiting your gas safety certificate and proof that deposit is in a protection scheme"

It's a long thread and and I wrote that from my memory of it so it might need some adjustment but that's general idea.

I know it's easy to say it from my side of the keyboard, but you’ll be fine! If they decide to go the legal route it will take months to go through, but which time you'll be long gone! It would be ridiculous of them for the sake of a week. On the off chance they do everything is in your favour anyway because the section 21 wasn't properly served and they haven’t supplied documents that they’re required to. Everything is on your side