End Of Tenancy

[chokkie]

Hi Abers out there. Not sure where to put this question - Law? Home and Garden? Anyway, here I am, so apologies if it's in the wrong category. If a tenant of an unfurnished flat wants to leave in, say, the foreseeable future, does he or she have to officially give notice of that first - or can the landlord just complete one of those "end of tenancy" documents? Does anyone know what the length of "notice to quit" on the part of the tenant, should be? Thanks, cheers, chox.

[chokkie]

Oh, and I forgot to ask as well ... if the tenant gives us notice of his/her intention to quit, is it necessary to complete any particular form - and if yes, what form should be used? Cheers, Chox.

[Buenchico]

Assuming that
(a) the tenancy is in England (because the law might be different elsewhere, especially in Scotland) ; and
(b) the tenancy is a 'periodic' one, whereby the property is rented 'per week' or 'per month' (rather than a 'fixed term' one, such as a tenancy specifically for 12 months)
see here:
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/ending_a_periodic_tenancy

[Peter Pedant]

// If a tenant of an unfurnished flat wants to leave in, say, the foreseeable future, //

he gives notice to the landlord that he wishes to leave

If the tenancy has some time to run - like you are 9 1/2 mo into a years tenancy - the landlord can demand the rent up to 12m. This is normal practice in commerical rent and the council will do this as well. As a private landlord - just get 'em out - like you know - "you wanna go tomorrow, great! lets go and read the meters"

The private landlord having received the notice should write and acknowledge and say what the exit procedure is - meter reading - walk thro - keys - deposit and state the day on whcih they have said they would leave

then sit back and pray

( yes I have had tenants volunteer they would leave on the 1st and on the great day they said - no I have decided to stay. - no rent of course)

The big thing is to get the tenants out and get them to give you the keys -

[chokkie]

Thanks folks - yeah, sorry I had forgotten I'd asked the question previously - and recently. Rent is paid on a monthly basis, and it's in England, so we presume that he/she has to give a month's notice, in writing. We won't have to worry about getting the keys back, but thanks for the reminder about getting the meters read. Oh, and the tenant isn't being chucked out - he/she is going to warden-controlled accommodation, and probably won't be able to move there until this Spring. Thanks again, folks, cheers, Chox.