Tenant wants to end contract 2 months early due to building disruption

Landlord Discussion
1

My tenant (who is on a 6 month contract) would like to terminate the contract early, she has given 2 months notice. She would like to terminate the contract due to works being carried out in the block, site wide boiler replacements to all flats in the block. These works are disruptive, there is no denying this.

  • Tenants contract began on 27th February 2023
  • Tenant signed a 6 month contract
  • Tenant is requesting to end the tenancy early because of disruption caused by building works (boilers being fitted in all flats)
  • Tenant would like to terminate her contract on 26 July 2023
  • Tenancy contract ends 26 September 2023
  • New boiler to be fitted before end of July 2023 - as per City of London’s request (I am a leaseholder)
  • 7th October 2023 - I had planned to move back into the flat myself
  • I am not in a position to have the flat empty, not even for one month with rising costs

Tenant emailed me requesting to terminate her contract early due to the impending new boiler to be fitted. She writes: "So let’s amend the end date of the tenancy to July 26th, so that I can leave before any work begins.

To part ways at this stage is the best option since we’re both incredibly busy with career/personal - in my experience, major works such as these are impossible to control in terms of project management and outcome - this will be a significant ongoing disruption for us both, and will continue to have an unnecessarily distressing impact on me in particular".

I’m not sure what to do really. I agree the works are going to be disruptive (circa 2 days for the complete installation of new boiler) but I don’t have control over that. The flat is within a block of flats of which I am a leaseholder of.

If I were to move back into the flat myself, to end my current rental contract early would incur extra cost to me, as I would have to pay the check in and check out fees for the new tenant plus agency admin costs, which comes to around £600.

What should I do? agree to terminate my tenants contract early because of the disruption of having a new boiler fitted? and swallow the cost my end to terminate my own rental contract early - the place I currently live in to move back to the flat I rent out?

Any advice would be GREATLy received.

Angela

2

Maintenance happens in all properties and while it is inconvenient i wouldn’t have thought a boiler replacement is particularly distressing for most people…

You are under no obligation to end tenancy early. I think a goodwill payment to cover inconvenience would be more appropriate, something like 10% of monthly rent and deducted from her last rent payment that is due. You dont need to do anything so this is at your discretion, it is generally best to keep tenants happy but cant always be done.

Your dates dont match, feb to sept is 7 months, not 6 so you may want to check that.

3

As above suggest a reduction in rent as good will ! She well be angling for it

4

You are allowed to charge the tenant your costs if you agree to early termination, but no more than that.

Gather written evidence of the costs and tell her this is the price of early termination.

5

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