My tenants have given notice in line with their periodic tenancy dates - they gave notice on 17th September for a move out 17th October. However, they cannot move into their new property until 19/20th October, which would be fine, but they can’t get back to clean the property until the 21/22nd October, 5/6 days after their periodic tenancy ends (and the point up until they have paid the rent).
I’m considering asking for rent pro rata, for the additional days beyond their rolling monthly contract, but wondered if it’s normal for landlords to consider the ‘cleaned by’ date as the final date of occupancy, or the date they move out and take their belongings, assuming they have to go back to clean? Obviously they can’t do a deep clean until the flat is completely clear of their stuff.
Also, when registering the move out date on the Open rent platform, does the platform facilitate in the agreement of any pro rata payments, or does this have to be agreed separately via email?
Its fine to agree this,but agree it in writing so everybody is clear. You need to work out the pro-rata payments and agree with tenant. If you use OR rent collection, they only receive & pass on rent.
Tenancy end date is day they hand back the keys, property empty, cleaned & finished with. They are liable for rent, council tax & utilities until this date, regardless when they actually move out.
It’s your choice
The house should be returned clean by midnight on the last day of contract
In my experience they don’t bother coming back so you end up losing time
You then have to consider they are still liable for utilities council tax etc
It’s likely they will have closed their accounts so you are liable
Why can’t they actually organise themselves to move out , clean the property, remove all of their possessions and hand back the keys on the final day they are legally allowed to be inside the property? They should have thought about this before.
What if they damage something or have an accident in your property after the tenancy has ended.
I allowed my student tenants to return after the contract finished once. They fly tipped their rubbish in the alleyway and I was billed a £400 penalty from environmental crime because the cardboard had my address and the council tax had reverted back to my name
I had to prove they came in three days later to clean up .
Fortunately I had email correspondence which they accepted.
It was still unnecessary stress and paperwork
Another group agreed to come on a Sunday but didn’t bother to communicate they were running late
I lost a week whilst they messed around and I was still left with an ant infestation after they ‘ cleaned’
I personally would not take the risk . Responsible tenants move house before a contract ends
As if making them move before their new property is ready will reduce the risk of them leaving a mess.
Anyone’s house move can experience delays out of someones control. Yet, you’d leave a tenant homeless for a few days by making them move out of your property 2/3 days before they can move into their new property. How generous & thoughtful.
Your experience of letting a tenant come back after the contract is finished, is not the same at all, if they extend the rental contract for a few days my mutual written agreement.
Their next property wasn’t available for two days until after the rental period ended. As they’ve been such good tenants, of 4 years, I was happy to show some lenience, but I have now set the contract end date to the date they will have finished the clean - thankfully they’ve been very cordial and have agreed to pay pro rata rent up until that date (in writing).
You should know that anything you’ve done to “change the contract end date” would not be legally compliant and if the tenants don’t stick to their side of the bargain, you will have created a mess. However, if you’re confident about these tenants, it will probably all be ok.
The fixed term had lapsed and they were in a rolling periodic tenancy of 30 days notice. I didn’t have to ‘change’ the date, I waited until they’d accepted the pro rata amount, taking them to the date at which they’ll have vacated and cleaned, so hopefully no legal issues to worry about there.
That’s assuming to accuse me of making someone homeless as I haven’t
In fact it’s slanderous !
However I note that my incoming tenants have asked to move in earlier than the standard academic term turn over date so they can deal with their accommodation responsibly before they depart (which I have accommodated even if it means working around the clock seven days a week )
Hence. why I have said it demonstrates responsibility.
But actually being accused and potentially fined for criminal acts caused by showing the tenants good will to clean after a contract has ended (on more than one occasion )
Well, that’s ok ……
We are here to post opinions
You have posted your intent
I have posted what has happened to me showing that good will.
There is always another perspective that you may not have come across
Isn’t that why we post on here?