Is that actually the case, there’s no suitable contract landlord could use for short term(ie.<6mths) let? Can’t use holiday let contract, as this would be the tenant’s main home. Can’t use AST, as this means landlord running a risk of tenants not moving out by end of agreed term and if they are not paying after the advanced payment, the landlord have to wait till month 6 to apply section 8?
1 Like
Thats correct. *20 characters
1 Like
Would it be possible to give a licence agreement, providing you arranged for a cleaner who had the right to enter all the rooms in the flat?
There is, however, a risk that a Labour Government could abolish the distinction between licences and tenancies.
Also it is not clear whether we will need planning permission if we wish to let for short fixed terms.
Its not enough for the cleaners to have the right to enter all the rooms, they will have to actually go in and clean at least once a week. It may be wise to launder the bedlinnen too. This starts to get quite expensive, coupled with which the landlord would have to pay the utilities. This is not really a simple fix.
You’re right David that it could be expensive to include everything. However, Huddle offers unlimited gas, electricity and water deals at a fixed price so it is feasible to add that amount on to the rent.
The cleaning cost would also be a fixed amount, but could be more difficult to arrange.
Welsh Labour abolished the distinction between licences and tenancies, and we have yet to see if that will be the case in England, too, after the next election.
Hi David,
Just one query. Where do you get the requirement for cleaning to be at least once a week?
I have seen serviced flat contracts where the cleaning is carried out on a fortnightly basis.
However, if serviced flats become regulated as they did in Scotland and Wales, there may be a strict requirement about cleaning.
This is what it says about cleaning in Scotland:
Minimum entry requirements (all grades):
- A weekly cleaning service provided as a minimum
- Daily cleaning service to be available (may be chargeable)
- All bed linen and towels (including duvet covers where appropriate) should be changed once every four days and for each new let
Additional requirements to meet:
Five Star
Minimum five out of seven days daily cleaning service to be included in the letting price
Jasmine, I don’t think you have to wait until the end of a shorthold agreement fixed term to serve a Section 8 notice. You can use Ground 10 Schedule 2 Housing Act 1988
Ground 10
Some rent lawfully due from the tenant—
(a)is unpaid on the date on which the proceedings for possession are begun; and
(b)except where subsection (1)(b) of section 8 of this Act applies, was in arrears at the date of the service of the notice under that section relating to those proceedings.
However, in practice it might take a long time to actually regain possession.
Thank you everyone for all the helpful replies
Theres no hard and fast rule on the frequency of cleaning and fortnightly may be fine. However, the main issue is to convince a judge thst its a licence for serviced accommodation, so Id err onthe side of more frequent raher than less.
That sounds like extremely sensible advice David.
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.