Help! I can’t find a suitable short let tenancy agreement.

Help! I can’t find a suitable short let tenancy agreement.

8:09 AM, 29th June 2018, About 6 years ago 40

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I am hoping to let my property for 2 months while it is on the market to sell. Bills will be included but it will not be furnished. I know that you can use an AST for shorter than 6 months but this does not protect me against a tenant wanting to stay on and not pay if under 6 months, which would among other things, jeopardise the sale.

I have found a tenant who wants to rent, but cannot find a suitable short let agreement to cover this sort of situation. It is not a holiday let as he lives around the corner and is having work done on his house. It isn’t airbnb. What is it called and can anyone point me in the direction of a suitable template that will protect us both for this 2 month tenancy.

Thank you.
O Green


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Comments

Neil Patterson

8:11 AM, 29th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Hi O Green,

For two months is it really worth the hassle and if you are selling how are you going to arrange viewings?

O Green

8:50 AM, 29th June 2018, About 6 years ago

It will be rented on the understand that viewings will be allowed and I have someone to do the viewings.
I cannot afford to have the property empty and while the market is as flat as it is, there could well be more short lets after this one.
Any ideas on tenancy agreements for this?

Puzzler

8:50 AM, 29th June 2018, About 6 years ago

https://www.landlordlaw.co.uk/content/short-lets-can-assured-shorthold-tenancy-be-less-six-months

The tenant is not bound by the term unless it is minimum six months.

O Green

9:00 AM, 29th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Puzzler at 29/06/2018 - 08:50Thank you. That is the problem. Is there not an agreement for shorter lets. Estate agents have different agreements (non AST) for these shorter lets, which for example, have different rules on the deposit or can anyone recommend a service that can do this paperwork for me other than an estate agent?

Luke P

9:31 AM, 29th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by O Green at 29/06/2018 - 09:00
Even if they were, what are you going to do if they refuse to do viewings? “On the understanding…” would give you zero protection as would any other wording.

TheMaluka

9:40 AM, 29th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Are you willing to risk £50,000 damage, no rent and the tenant refusing to leave?

terry sullivan

10:11 AM, 29th June 2018, About 6 years ago

try bnb

Puzzler

10:22 AM, 29th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by O Green at 29/06/2018 - 09:00
The article I posted explains that even if you do, you cannot enforce it before six months, so no there isn't. You would be mad, is it worth it for a couple of months? there are other tenancy types but they have even greater tenant protection

Luke P

10:54 AM, 29th June 2018, About 6 years ago

The potential costs against you are far, far greater than the two months rent you stand to gain. Even with a model tenant, timings are unlikely to be perfect to achieve what you want. A buyer will demand vacant possession *before* proceeding, so you’re gonna have a void somewhere.

O Green

11:30 AM, 29th June 2018, About 6 years ago

Thank you for all your advice. It seems very odd to me that this isn't possible to do legally and safely. People have short lets through estate agents all the time. Are all these landlords taking risks?
I have been advised that you must take all the rent in advance, plus a deposit before handing over keys.

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