Sec 21 issued, 1 tenant leaves, 1 stays?

Sec 21 issued, 1 tenant leaves, 1 stays?

0:02 AM, 8th March 2023, About A year ago 22

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Hi, I have been a landlord for 20 years and am now selling all my properties, one a year, as I’ve had enough of the way things are going against the private landlord.

I have done evictions in the past but have now come up against a situation new to me, so would appreciate advice from those of you with experience of the following.

I have issued a section 21 to a couple who have been with me for several years. The notice requires them to leave on the 20th of this month.

They know it is because I’m selling as I told them 18 months ago, hoping they would leave earlier and save me the trouble of eviction.

One of the tenants has found a place and is moving out on the 15th, but says the partner is staying on as advised by the council.

My question is: As one person has left the property, does the tenancy end automatically when the S21 notice is up on the 20th?

Can I tell the other tenant to be out as I’m coming to change the locks, no matter what the council says, or do I have to continue through the court system and bailiffs?

Thanks for any lawful advice,

R


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Comments

Mick Roberts

15:30 PM, 8th March 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Rerktyne at 08/03/2023 - 10:29
Well said Rerktyne,

All true words.

Ian Narbeth

17:47 PM, 8th March 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Steve Masters at 08/03/2023 - 11:48
Steve, you write: "According the "Distress for Rent Act 1737" you might be able to charge the remaining tenant double rent or "mesne profits"". That is not correct. Section 18 of the Distress for Rent Act 1737 allows a claim for double rent where the tenant gives "notice to quit" and fails to leave.

Steve Masters

17:50 PM, 8th March 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 08/03/2023 - 17:47
OK. What's the difference between a Deed of Surrender and a Notice to Quit?

Chris @ Possession Friend

17:59 PM, 8th March 2023, About A year ago

The Council should not be just telling tenants to 'stay put' The Homelessness Act is I believe, a little deliberately nefarious on the council's responsibilities but it does make clear that just telling tenants to remain after a sec 21 notice expires is not what they should do.

Two Housing ministers have separately had to remind Councils of that, and the Housing Ombudsman often finds against Councils where there is ' evidence ' that the council have told tenants to just remain.

If the Council actually sets up a claim and takes proactive action to seek alternative accommodation, they are allowed to tell the tenant to remain un5il alternative accommodation has been secured.

But Councils should have opened up a Housing log on the tenant and be taking steps to help them find alternative accommodation.

Raz

19:33 PM, 8th March 2023, About A year ago

If one of the joint tenants leaves at or before the end of the fixed term, the ‘statutory replacement tenancy’ which arises after the end of a fixed term will be deemed to be just in the name of the tenants staying on. If this is the case then you will not then be able to claim against the outgoing tenant after the end of the fixed term if they gave notice.
Legally one tenant can end the tenancy by serving a notice to quit on the landlord (whether or not the other tenants agree with this – they may not even know about it). This cannot be done during the fixed term, but if you have a periodic tenancy and the tenant serves an NTQ then, the tenancy will end at the end of the notice period.
What the legal situation is then will depend on the circumstances. If the remaining tenants stay on paying rent and you accept that rent, then almost certainly a new periodic tenancy will be implied on the same terms and conditions as the preceding one.
With the difference that if one or more of the joint tenants have left they will not be part of this new agreement – the tenancy will only be with the tenants remaining in the property.
So far as any replacement occupier is concerned, he will not become liable for the rent (ie to you) until after he has signed a tenancy agreement. Before this, he will just be an occupier living at the property with permission of the tenant – generally, this will be as a lodger.

Steve Masters

20:02 PM, 8th March 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Raz at 08/03/2023 - 19:33
"If the remaining tenants stay on paying rent and you accept that rent, then almost certainly a new periodic tenancy will be implied on the same terms and conditions as the preceding one."

However, if you accept payment in arrears for the time in wrongful possession (mesne profits), rather than as rent in advance, then I think this is a different situation and you might be able to avoid creating a new tenancy.

We are drifting a bit off topic here.

David

11:21 AM, 9th March 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Steve Masters at 08/03/2023 - 20:02
Both tenants would need to sign a deed of surrender to make it valid, so at this point it's unlikely to be an option.

A Notice to Quit can be served by only one joint tenant in a periodic tenancy because case law, (Monk v Hammersmith & Fulham) says it can.

Alison Walker

11:43 AM, 9th March 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Martin Roberts at 08/03/2023 - 10:33
I had to give a tenant a S.21, decided to talk to them before actually giving them the notice so that they knew it was coming. Tenant said o good, I'll take it to the council and they can house me. I replied that's totally understandable but let me tell you what will happen. They will tell you that they don't have to house you on expiry of the S21, your L/L will need to take you to court for possession. Even then we won't house you on the date the court says you need to give vacant possession by. Your L/L will need to go back to court for bailiffs and only then will we house you. I then added but let me tell you the bits they won't say. The tenant came back to me a few days later & said that was exactly what happened and no the council didn't mention her being liable for court costs. Needless to say she managed to find herself a new flat to rent before the S21 expired.

Chris @ Possession Friend

14:14 PM, 9th March 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Alison Walker at 09/03/2023 - 11:43
Indeed Alison. You should make a complaint to the Ombudsman. They have found against Councils for doing this, and landlords need as much evidence of this going on as possible.

Alison Walker

16:00 PM, 9th March 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Chris @ Possession Friend at 09/03/2023 - 14:14
Thanks Chris. Unfortunately this was a few years ago now, if it was more recent I would certainly report them. I wasn't aware that I could report them to the ombudsman back then.

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