Landlord can’t make his mind up and we are stuck in the middle

[1964_rb]

Hi

Wondering if anyone has been in this situation before and I need advice!

We are renting a property On a short term basis, and our contract is due to expire in a few months. Flash back to last year, The house was on the market before we rented but failed to sell or get much interest, so rather than leave the property vacant they wanted to rent it for a years fixed term. We signed the contract, We also verbally expressed interest in placing an offer or doing a rent to buy as an intention, which was open to discussion.

Few months pass, happy living in the property as tenants, and ready to have the discussion with the landlord, the communication fell flat on its a**! The property was placed on the market behind our backs with nothing but “retrospective” notice. This was placed on Saturday, and we found out the following Wednesday!

Frustrated… trying to process it all, (whilst juggling the absolute abysmal communication from the estate agents regarding viewings where they turn up half an hour late and inconvenience our day as tenants) we find a property we fall in love with, and are currently going through referencing for this. We ask if we can break early from our contract which was verbally agreed on the phone.

Meanwhile, landlord sh*ts himself to find we are intending to leave the property, offers us a rental extension (whilst selling the house) and puts the rent up!!!

Whilst being in the whirlwind of emails and unable to offer a moving date for our next house, landlord has got itchy a** and decided actually he wants to rent the house out to new tenants, and we would be liable to stay until the end of our contract. (Ultimately to do the same to the next tenants!)

Where on Earth do we stand as tenants, if we stand anywhere? Or do I just have to hold my breath and wait until we move out and let this go as we signed a contract… This is severely mentally draining

[Chris]

Unfortunately the landlords word cannot be trusted.The only thing you can be certain of is what’s written in the terms of your tenancy agreement. With regards to viewings it is often written into contracts that viewings are to take place in the last two months of your tenancy. If this is the case maybe use this to push back.

[David122]

It doesnt sound like the landlord has a clue what theyre doing. Firstly, the landlord cant impose a rent increase during the fixed term unless it was already agreed in the tenancy agreement. I’d just decline to pay it. Secondly, he cant end your tenancy during the fixed term without your consent. If you want this, then negotiate a date that suits you. Thirdly, the tenancy wont end when the fixed term expires. The tenancy will just become periodic on the same terms save for notice. So you can relax a bit and start making your own demands.

[Graham]

Its not “going behind your back”, any landlord would be an idiot not to put it on the market, and they did tell you. You think anyone selling a house is going to talk to only one person? then you live in cloud cuckoo land. You then found a house and decided to try to get out of the contract. You can offer a moving date, you can pay off the landlord for the fixed period. There’s only a few months left on your contract you say so just sit tight, see contract out and leave. Or put your money where your mouth is, pay up the contract and leave whenever you want.