I am in the last month of a 6month shorthold tenancy and must give notice. What is the earliest I can leave?

Question

It is an assured shorthold tenancy agreement.

Being a monthly agreement, I realise I must give a month's notice, but must this be given on a rent due day, or can it be given at any time during the rental period.

ie, the rent is due on the 10th, can I give notice on the 20th, to leave on the following 20th, and pay only 10 days extra rent pro-rata?

Answer 1

The answers to all of this are in your tennancy agreement - the term assured shorthold tennancy agreement is a gernic one, but the wording is not. Based on standard practice, things which could now happen include...

* it may be that you enter into a "rolling" contract after the initial 6 month period, so you will continue to be a legal tennant until you or the landlord gives your notice.

* it may be that the agreement terminates upon the of of 6 months. This is less common, but does happen, particular in some agency managed properties and often as a way of charging some form of "administration" or "renewal" fee.

With regards to your specific questions (although do check your agreement!):

* A month is the common amount of notice, but 2 months is not uncommon.

* If you chose to leave outside of your initial contract period it should be entirely possible to pay on a pro-rate basis for the additional days. You should confirm the arrangement for this with your agent or landlord though.

* You may be able to terminate this by mutual consent, if you did need to leave earlier and your landlord felt confident they could get someone in without undue loss of earnings - speak to them if you need to do this.

IN SUMMARY! :) look at your tennancy agreement, speak to your agent / landlord.

Answer 2

Normally you must give at least 30 days notice and the notice period must also span at least one full rental period. For example, if rent is due on the first and you give notice today (5/9/07) it would be with affect as of the 1st of November. To be with effect as of the 1st of October, notice would have to be given on or prior to the 1st of September.

Answer 3

Read your lease. You should give 1 calendar month's notice, preferably terminating the day before the rent due day. Better to give slightly more to take it up to that day. Take care to get your deposit back in full.

Answer 4

you can leave when the short term tenancy expires without notice. but it will all depend on the terms and conditions of the orginal agreement when you first took the tenancy.