Early termination of tenancy agreement

[sunnysan]

A question to all you landlords from a renter AKA Tenant scum :-)

I potentially have a lucrative long term role in Europe, but I have about 9 months left on my rental contract.

I have renting the place for nearly two years and my renewal rate was probably about 85% of market value, by my own and the landlords estimates.

He is busy renovating the bathroom and a general lick and spit of paint elsewhere.

The flat is in a prime area of West London and to be honest when I looked at the beginning of the year I could not find anything in that area even close to the price I am paying now.

The way I see it, if I cover the commission he has paid to the letting agent and let him advertise the property for 6 weeks before I go, I cant really see a problem as with the renovated bathroom he could probably add about 25% on what I am paying at least, and I was looking over XMAS and now it will be heading to summer, so the rentals will be stronger

As landlords, if you where in this scenario, would you allow me the break the contract or would you insist that I honour the contract and sublet(I am allowed to in the contract)?

Subletting would probably work for me and make me a bit of cash, but I will be upping sticks so could do without the aggravation.

It sounds like a bit of a no brainer to me, but would any grizzly, money-grabbing, capitalist property owners here be prepared to give their opinion?

[threaded]

I'd sublet. When you're working away it's nice to have distractions.

[Platypus]

Subletting is explicitly disallowed in many rental agreements

[doodab]

Check your contract. You should be able to give notice. Normally you must give 1 months notice that you intend to leave, and you can only give it after 6 months have elapsed.

[NotAllThere]

I worked on a contract where a group of us rented a house. The turnover of contractors was quite high (dreadful project ), and the landlord was quite happy for new victims to take over the rental agreement.

[sunnysan]

Contract

Subletting

There is a subletting clause, pretty standard stating subletting only by consent of landlord and it will not be unreasonably refused.

In this case my ground IMHO are reasonable.

Notice period

I have a one year contract, with no break clause.

[Paddy]

The law is complex on L&T and much will depend on the lease or rental agreement. Subletting is a high risk even if it is allowed; you would be responsible for any damage, non-payment of taxes etc. You could be stuffed on that one. The safest way is to tell your landlord and quit. Even if you moved out and left the property empty while still paying rent; you could be in breach and may have to pay costs. For example it may cost the landlord more to insure an empty property or the city council could charge him 120% council tax for an empty property. Negotiate with him; the worst would be that you have to pay the difference in rent with a new tenant and out of pocket expenses. Any improvements to the property are irrelevant. Disputes with L&T are normally settled with arbitration although it does preclude other forms of litigation.

[PAH]

If you do a runner and give no forwarding address how is the landlord or utility companies supplying the water/gas/leccy going to find you to force you to pay up any money you owe them?

I've always been cautious on this front when renting places close to clients but often wondered just how much they can do if you don't play by the rules.

[doodab]

I've always been cautious on this front when renting places close to clients but often wondered just how much they can do if you don't play by the rules.

Well, they can get a CCJ and knacker your credit rating for one.

[AtW]

If you do a runner and give no forwarding address how is the landlord or utility companies supplying the water/gas/leccy going to find you to force you to pay up any money you owe them?

They get CCJ by default and every credit check on your name can turn it up. Also how exactly are you going to give 3 years of history where you lived?