My apartment has been rented for 7 months under a 12-month fixed-term contract. The couple living there recently had a baby, but the lead tenant is now planning to leave the country unexpectedly. The remaining tenant has asked to transfer the tenancy into her name only, as they are no longer getting along. While I have some doubts about the situation, let’s assume it’s genuine.
Has anyone successfully used the “Change Tenants / Guarantors” option to trigger a “Renew Tenancy” and remove the lead tenant while the fixed term is still active, keeping the other tenant (who wasn’t originally referenced) as the sole and new lead tenant?
I’d like to confirm:
- Whether OpenRent allows referencing of the remaining (unreferenced) tenant during the renewal process, especially since she would become the sole and lead tenant.
- That the existing fixed-term tenancy remains fully valid and enforceable until all steps — referencing, contract signing, and deposit handling — are completed and the new agreement is in place.
Looking for any advice or experiences from landlords who’ve gone through something similar.
I would proceed with caution
Whilst you have two tenants you have joint and several liability
Have you Evidence the person is leaving tickets etc
Is this a benefits scam she’s just had a baby
Is it to allow for additional benefits
Can the lead tenant afford it on her income alone ?
My guess is no if she is on maternity leave
Read between the lines
You will have to serve all papers inventory etc again
If this were me I’d leave well alone
Put it to the tenant who stays that she needs to go through referencing before she can move forward
Personally I would make no changes as that is the only option that is in your favour
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This is not in your interest and the mechanics of trying to change it could also cause you problems. Can the remaining tenant even afford it on their own with a new baby?
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Hi - What do you mean the “the mechanics of trying to change it could also cause you problems” please?
That’s exactly what I am trying to gauge, is it as simple as pressing a button (see screengrab) on OpenRent?
Regarding the rent the remaining tenant is willing to pay 6 months upfront and has shared with me a land registry title to prove she owns a property in London. They were living abroad for a few years then came back to the UK. It is risky but I’d believe a medium risk looking at her professional background and the property ownership.
Have you verified the title deeds yourself ?
Is it up to date ?
Does she have a U.K. based guarsntir guarantor ?
She’s going to cover six months then what ?
What happened to the credit check ?
What professional background ? Again what supports this ?
Don’t just look at six months , what after that ?
Does she have job security ?
This is not a time for medium risk with RRB coming in you will never get them out
I know tenants who had a similar story of abroad
I looked on companies house to find they were liquidated left to go abroad for 12 months
Would not provide any references for uk or foreign landlord
Don’t look at the six months you need to do a full credit history
If they have been abroad they will fail referencing
Just because someone says something does not mean it’s true
It’s very easy to falsify documents
I would leave your contract as is . You have more financial security
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I’ve only used this service to renew & add a tenant, but I believe it does work the other way around.
You can order referencing via Openrent outside of this process. See referencing section within the drop down menu.
I would do that first & any other checks you wish to do to help you be sure.
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I’m confused..what happens to the existing tenancy agreement if no one has given the specified notice, being only 7 months in presumably the 12 month fixed term has a break clause which must be used ?
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What I mean is that you are not renewing a tenancy because the Tenant will be different. You have to properly end the existing tenancy and create a whole new tenancy for the one who wants to remain.
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Thank you for taking the time to reply. I just downloaded the deeds myself, and it is matching what she sent yesterday. No she does not have a guarantor in UK. I have not done a credit check on her, but I will as someone also suggested it.
I also agree about the 6 months then what…
I was not aware of the Renters’ Rights Bill (RRB), thanks for the information, this is probably the most concerning part now. This law is going backward.
I will do the referencing beforehand. Thanks for the recommendation.
I wasn’t aware this option existed either; that’s one of the main reasons for my post. Has anyone successfully done it?
She suggested hiring a solicitor, at her own expense, to execute a “deed of assignment of tenancy,” but I’m reluctant to take that route.
This is what I expected as well, or that we would need to go through a solicitor to execute a deed of assignment of tenancy.
However, OpenRent seems to offer this option (see the screengrab), which is why I’m asking whether anyone has successfully done it. I emailed OpenRent and received a generic reply saying it’s possible, but I’d like first‑hand confirmation from someone who has actually done it. Thanks for your help.
A deed of assignment may be possible, although youd still need to do a checkout inspection, deposit refund and new deposit if you want certainty that you would later be able to make a claim against it.
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