We've been looking for somewhere else to live over the past 7 months since our letting agent sent us a letter telling us that our Landlord is planning on selling the property we live in by June 2014.
We've been in touch with the letting agents who said they will have a chat with the landlord, but if they decide they want us to serve our notice we're buggered, as the other landlord certainly won't be willing to hold it for nearly 3 months.
We could give our notice in the hope that we will find somewhere else before the end of March, but it's taken us this long to find somewhere suitable and don't want to find at the end of March we still haven't found anywhere suitable and suddenly have to move into something that's not.
Are you on a fixed term or revolving tenancy? I'm guessing fixed term as you are with a letting agency.
Do you pay the rent monthly?
What does the least term state re notice period? (Not enforceable if this contradicts the law)
My understanding is that a fixed term tenancy converts to a revolving tenancy,
if fixed term tenancy is not renewed but you continue to rent the property.
In which case I understand that the minimum notice period the landlord has to offer is 2 months
and the tenant has to offer one month. This is probably hypothetical because your existing landlord is renting the property to you through an agency.
And the agencies score Coin from both a % of the rental plus the periodic tenancy renewal fee.
If your new property falls through coz the current landlord holds you to term
you could {hypothetically} end up as a sitting tenant at your current location
which would bugger things up hugely for your current landlord.
I'm sure that they would rather release you early from any term, rather than the {hypothetical} alternative.
It would be worth your current landlord thinking this through...
I suggest you talk direct with the landlord as the Agency work for him and not you.
If you leave early, they loose income (ie. it is in their interest to keep you
at the existing address for as long as possible) In truth, your landlord
may know nothing of the "conversations" the agency say they have held
with said landlord... Trust no one)
I wouls strongly recommend that you get expert legal advice.
Namely get your lease out infront of you and
1. Phone the charity
>>>Shelter<<< by phone.
They have specialists who can advise you further.
2. Phone your local
>>>CAB<<< office.
Arrange a meeting. This will be with a general adviser prior to a second meeting with an advisor
who specialises in accommodation issues.
I think this second advisor will be a solicitor specialising in housing law.
For both the CAB meetings, take a copy of your lease.
Good luck.