Bats in the belfry, windows are jammed - London flat renting, deposits & landlords

What a steal

1 Attachment

Apologies if repost ...https://secretldn.com/tube-map-unaffordable/

My tenancy agreement does not have a defined notice period, I am out of the tenancy agreement period and monthly rolling.
Can I assume 1 month as fine?

I am not asking the agent as I am going to serve it, and do not want to give them room to move.

Edit: Getting that from here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-privately/ending-your-tenancy/ending-your-tenancy/

My management agent says 'it's best... to give 2 months notice on a periodic tenancy" but what's best for them isn't for me, so they can shove that.
https://www.hunters.com/tenants/eight-stages-renting/stage-eight-moving-out-property

iirc it's 2m for the landlord. I think for the tenant it is 1m, but best to double check.

If there's no downside to you then it's always better to give more notice.

It's 1 month notice period on periodic tenancy, even if your original contract states 2 months as that has now elapsed an you pay month to month and have a periodic agreement. Had it happen to me.

The downside is I need to move out asap.
And for sure, I agree, in better circumstances I would give as much as possible.

I had spoken to the agent about a rent reduction, but their offer was to pay whatever I can now, and deal with the arrears down the line... which isn't exactly helpful!

Thanks!

Okay all agreed.

I guess not, but in hope. Does the change in law on fees override my contract? Which has a £115 check out fee in it. (signed in 2018)

Answer is no : https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/letting_agent_fees_for_tenants

When paying the last month's rent on a rolling month-by-month contract should be pay the full amount? or just for the period we've given notice for?

I'd expect it pro-ratered up to the day you leave.

The full amount, technically, if you're paying rent in advance. Rent payable in advance is not capable of being apportioned since the Apportionment Act 1870 only applies to rent payable in arrears, not rent payable in advance. A lot of landlords don't know that though.

Thanks both, thought it might be the latter, hoping it would be the former. We'll see what the landlord decides.

so I'm not British and actually have never been there but recently lost my job and I'm starting to rethink my life now that I'm near my 30s - moving is an option and despite Brexit there is a possibility of me getting work in London. I've always lived in shared apartments here due to the high cost of living compared to salaries (Portugal) and would like to finally have my own place, but I'm wondering if that's possible at all over there seeing it's not even close here even with the above average salary I had. What would you say is a good enough salary to lead a normal middle class life, renting a studio apartment and still managing to save up, say, 200 to 300£ a month in London?

That is one weird quirk.

Probably 50k.

That gives you:
~1600/mo for rent+bills
~300/mo savings
~800/mo travel+spending

with a bit of pension contributions, probably not enough to buy anywhere without significant existing savings, nor much chance of moving to anywhere bigger than a studio/1bed

I'm planning to move to South London - Peckham, East Dulwich, Nunhead or thereabouts in the next couple of months. I've only even lived north of the river before. Does anyone have any recommendations for lettings agents that aren't awful to deal with? A pal has recommended Roy Brooks (however they used them as an agent when they were selling up). Also if anyone has a 1 bed flat available soon let me knowww.....

Have rented in the area through Gareth James for the past 18 months and they have been awful. I think they've just furloughed/cut all staff due to Covid - so could be that.

I've rented two properties through Acorn before and they were decent enough https://www.acorngroup.co.uk/.

And Daisy Lets seem ok although their listings seem to go v quickly https://daisylets.uk/

There is also the East Dulwich forum which has a property section https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/list.php?22

thanks very much appreciated! also thanks for the heads up too @Elra

Quick legal(ish) query. If something has been repaired prior to to a rental starting and then fails during the course of the rental, under normal use, whose responsibility is it?

If it fails through general use its the landlords if it fails through being misused or tampered with its the tenant.

I thought agents coulnd't charge fees now? But I see this on a listing:

Agents Note - Excellent references will be required by anyone renting through Bychoice

• A minimum deposit of one & a half months rent is required (may be increased in certain circumstances)
  
• Referencing & administration fees apply, £215 for a single applicant & £60 extra per applicant/guarantor thereafter
  
• A check out fee of £60 is charged at the end of your tenancy per property
  

A check out fee of £60 is charged at the end of your tenancy per property

No idea whether or not this still applies. But I successfully challenged a LL with the deposit scheme by saying this was withholding my deposit illegally, when I refused and they tried to take it out of the deposit.

As you say, I think agent fees for checking references are illegal under 2019 tenant protection act (or whatever it’s really called). If I saw that on an ad, I’d be steering clear. They’re either trying it on or they haven’t been bothered to update their ad wording since before the legislation. Either way, it’s a pretty shoddy look.

Yeah your final point was my thought, but beggars can't be choosers.

Nothing more satisfying that challenging a LL through DPS arbitration. Cunts.

Apart from the the deposit then no.

1 Attachment