General Chat

The tenancy is in joint names.The biggest repair they are waiting for is the main door that the lock has broken and they cant shut it.They rent a flat over the top of a shop.The entrance is at the back.There are stairs inside the building in between two flats.This stairway has the main door on that the lock is broke.My daughter is so frightened that she could be broken into if she is there or if she is out.No-one could see if someone is breaking into the 2 flats.I dont live anywhere near but her friends mum is going into there shop today about the lock. Annie

I have Let out my properties in the UK for many years now through a Letting Agency, and one is Let privately.
Before letting out the one house privately, I took advice from my solicitor, and she advised I use the standard Agreement which is used by most Letting Agencies. It's a standard Short Term Tenancy Agreement of a 6 month term. Tenant to give 1 month's notice, Landlord to give 2.....however, the initial term was for 1 year, reverting to renewable 6 month terms after that first year.
If she is the only one named on the Agreement, then that's probably why she received only one set of keys although the standard practise with a Letting Agency is for the Tenant to receive 2 sets and for the Agent to hold one set.
If, as in your daughter's case the Landlord promised to do repairs, and still has not, I think she should put her requests to him in writing, keeping copies, and see if that gives him a push. If not, then she should seek advice from the CAB, as he isn't keeping to his side of the Agreement.
K

P.S. She should make a written note, dated, of the repairs needed, this might be needed when she does decide to leave, if she has trouble from him.
K

Is it a joint tenancy agreement, or just in your daughters name? Not sure on the key issue and would doubt there is anything written down about it. I can't even remember how many sets of keys there are to my flat.
It is not unreasonable to ask fro the £50 if she leaves between 6 and 12 months when she has signed for a 6month contract.

Rosalind

There's laws to protect people from dodgy landlords.

Why only one key? When you let a house from the local council, they give you two keys.

Thanks Teresa and Rosalind.Perhaps it is for if she moves out after 6 months.I will go to the CAB and find out and i will let you know.Also there are 2 of them sharing and they have only one key.Landlord said they have to pay themselves for another key? Annie

Yep, I had a 6 month fixed term tenancy, now its just a one month rolling agreement, which suits us. We only need to give one months notice to quit, though the landlord legally has to give us two months notice, even for non payment of rent.

There are various kinds of tenancy agreement, and I have to say the terms you describe re. quitting before the year is up, seems reasonable to me. From a landlords point of view he is renting this for an income. No tenants = no income, so a term of notice gives him time to find a new tenant.

The deposit does not belong to the landlord, he just holds it for as long as you rent the property from him. It actually belongs to the tenant. However, legally he has the right to claim against the deposit should there be any damage to the property caused by the tenant, or the property be left in a poor decorative state by the tenant.Until the tenant moves out though, the landlord cannot claim a single penny of that deposit. He has to by law place it in separate bank account from his rental account. It is not his money.

I don't think there is a set time, it can be 6 months or 12, or even longer if landlord wants. I have always done minimum of 6 in case they are not looking after the place, fortunately only happened once. You don't have to sign up for a second term, usually it can be allowed to role on, but is dependent on the landlord.

Rosalind

Rosalind,It does not state what it is for.I thought it was strange that she had to sign for a year and thought it should have been 6 months. Annie

Get it checked out Annie. I rent my flat out and there is nothing in the tenancy agreement like that. I have only ever once kept any money back from the deposit to cover damage. My tenancy agreements have been initial 6 months followed by rolling monthly. They have to give a months notice, I have to give two.
Is the £50 to cover if they move out after 6 months?

Rosalind

She is with a letting agency but they own the flat. Annie

she should go to the citizens advice people

That's not one I've heard of. Usually the deposit is there to cover any damage caused while the tenant is occupying the property. This then should be given back to the tenant upon handing over the keys, less of course any taken to cover damages.

I've not heard of taking £50 anyway, regardless of any damage caused. I would take the tenancy agreement and anything else that states that in print, along with her copy of any inventory that has been done (if), along to the CAB who will check this against her tenants rights.

These can also be read on the CAB site. Just google CAB.

Is your daughter renting through an agent or directly through a landlord? It is better to rent through a reputable letting agent, who, although they act on the landords behalf, do ensure that laws are adhered to.

My daughter is privatly renting a flat.She had to sign up for the year although there is a clause where after 4 months she can give notice and get out after 6 months.The landlord is not very good and has not done any of the repairs that should of been done before she moved in.I read through her agreement and it states that when she does move out the landlord will take £50 out of the deposit.I have never heard of this.I can understand if there is damage,but not for just moving out? Can someone throw some light on this. Annie