Agent requesting 2 months notice on a periodic tenancy?

Agent requesting 2 months notice on a periodic tenancy?

0:02 AM, 22nd February 2023, About A year ago 23

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Hello, I’m hoping the Forum can help me. Bit of a different one as the advice needed is for a tenant rather than a landlord.

My niece has a periodic tenancy after the fixed term lapsed. In the initial contract, it had a break clause:

Break clause 7 months
it is agreed that 2 months notice in writing may be served after the 15th of June 2021 but before the 14th of July 2021 by either party to terminate this agreement after an initial period of 7 months to 14th of September 2021

As you can see, the initial agreement has long since ended. My niece wants to move out and would give the statutory 1 months notice, (usual with a periodic agreement, and in fact later in the initial agreement it states that a 1 months notice is required by the tenant) but the agent has stated she needs to give two months notice due to the break clause terms.

Do they override the statutory rules? To my mind it has no bearing as they have specified dates.

It seems baloney to me, but I’d be guided by better minds than mine on the forum.

Thanks in advance.

Dave


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Comments

David Hagerty

15:49 PM, 22nd February 2023, About A year ago

I agree to a point, it is just that the break clause specifies a long since expired date. No mention of the two months notice carrying on.
I'm confused too!
Will chat with Shelter whenever they are not busy.

Who thought Shelter might be useful!!

steven property118

16:26 PM, 22nd February 2023, About A year ago

Its 2 months notice needed in that period only, and only if termination was wanted on 14th sep. outside the date range statue law is common and would override normally. 1 month for tenant, 2 months for agent.

Lorraine Mansfield

21:55 PM, 22nd February 2023, About A year ago

my tenant geve me notice 17th January and his 6 month AST ended 2nd Feb. Is that ok or would he have to have given 1 months notice.

Thanks in advance

No hate plz

8:13 AM, 23rd February 2023, About A year ago

One month is the legal minimum but a clause in an AST can override it. Most agents have 2 month's notice period. As per Citizens Advice "Check your tenancy agreement to find out how much notice you have to give - you might have to give more than the minimum notice." The other factor is that if you don't, the agent won't give you a positive reference.

Angel

8:29 AM, 23rd February 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Lorraine Mansfield at 22/02/2023 - 21:55
A tenant can leave on the last day of a fixed term tenancy agreement. The contract will end there unless the tenancy agreement says they have to serve notice. If they stay past the last date it automatically becomes a periodic tenancy and they need to serve notice to end this tenancy. However, you can agree to them leaving earlier if you are in agreement to a surrender of the tenancy.

RoseD

8:36 AM, 23rd February 2023, About A year ago

So Lorraine your tenant has vacated at the end of his 6 month AST agreement? You should have been notifying him of the terms and finding out his intentions (to leave or stay) not relying on the tenant so all rather after the event surely!

Lorraine Mansfield

9:14 AM, 23rd February 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by RoseD at 23/02/2023 - 08:36
Hi the tenant sent a message 15th November saying they wanted to stay another 6 months i agreed to my agent going nearer the time to inspect the property and sign new 6 months AST . It was on the day that was to happen they then said they wouldn't be staying as they found a more suitable house. I was just surprised they didn't have to give notice of 1 month.

Cadaceus WHACKWALLOP

9:18 AM, 23rd February 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by shaun carter at 22/02/2023 - 13:22
A contract cannot trump statute law. Varying the notice period is no different to contracting not to carry out a gas safety check. It can't be done.

RoseD

9:40 AM, 23rd February 2023, About A year ago

If you doing this through an agent they should be advising you of the correct protocol. That's their job. If the tenant had verbally agreed an extended 6 month let you don't just get to change your mind without agreement. Again your letting agent should have been dealing with this and consulting with you to agree a mutual exit. I feel your issue here is more with the agent.

Crossed_Swords

11:23 AM, 23rd February 2023, About A year ago

Whatever the notice period is, it can be overridden by agreement with the landlord so I suggest she requests this. As a landlord I would never hold a tenant to a particular date, what's the point? You run the risk of ill-feeling and potential damage. With so much rental demand just now I expect they would be pleased to have a new tenant at probably a higher rent

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