What if I only want to let for 6 months?

I think you can if you choose and play with rules carefully.
1) Advertise clearly with fix 6 months contract.
2) Ask for “Guarantor/s” (compulsory)
3) Also buy rent Gurantee insurance with legal cover.
4) Make sure checks are performed and everything is clear in contract, during advert, documents are served correctly at the start of the tenancy, etc.
If anything goes wrong, atleast you are covered with rent Gurantee and legal cover. Incase worst happen you won’t be out of pocket but might be slight delay!!
I highly doubt things go wrong with guarantor as they will step in to save them and you….
Think about it… And do your own research around this suggestion.
All the best.

Reply to the comment left by R at 10/08/2024 – 11:25
Your point number 1 – if it was as simple as stating clearly that a tendency was for a fixed term only, 6 months, 12 months or whatever, then there wouldn’t be all the fuss over Section 21. In the market I operated in with my ‘family’ lets all my tenancies were initially for a fixed 6 month period but then continued as periodic under the relevant legislation – some for 20 years plus.

If S21 is withdrawn by the government during the 6 months then that option of getting the property back has gone and pointing to an advert that said the tenancy was for 6 months only won’t make a shred of difference. The grounds under Section 8, whatever they may be in the future, would be the only route to gaining vacant possession.

Reply to the comment left by Keith Wellburn at 10/08/2024 – 12:25Yes, indeed.
If people would just stick to the contracts and they were able to be enforced as quickly as our colleagues in the US can, there would be no problem, however, as everybody knows, in this country, a 6-month AST or contract can easily be dragged out to 18 months plus by unscrupulous tenants.
A guy I recently met from the US told me that the longest he has ever had to wait for possession is 3 weeks, this was when the tenants refused to leave. When I told him of our predicament, he just looked at me sideways in disbelief, consequently he is not half as frightened to let his properties out as we are.

Reply to the comment left by R at 10/08/2024 – 11:25Rent guarantee isn’t worth the paper it’s written on, read the small print. And especially for a 6 month agreement.

Thanks for your advice people 🙂 I think I will leave it empty!!

If the flat has more than one bedroom, why not move in to it now and get a lodger on a licence for the spare room ?

AirBnB or other short let system is likely to be a breach of the lease or a lot of work for a few months.