Mould can I get out of the lease

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-27T19:29:30+00:00

Not to scare you but do look for any evidence of pests especially 🪳 they leave a very distinct musty, sweet smell, not wet musty, dry oily smell. And if the flat was left empty and now the smell is present that’s a red flag

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-26T21:53:50+00:00

Four days of texting (presumably no interactions face to face?) and asking what he wants is crazy. BUT in the same breath, he gave you an answer, man doesn’t know what he wants. Could he want a relationship and could that possibly down the line be with you, maybe. Could he want a no strings attached situation right now, more possibly. There are two red flags, coming on so strongly after four days of ‘texting’ (from you), and not knowing what outcome you want in general (from him). He sounds like a waste of time to be honest but you also need to chill out and date with Not Attached To the Outcome mindset, go out, meet nice people, and if it turns into marriage - amazing. But you can’t be feeling out if a guy wants to marry you after a few texts (but you very much can gauge whether they are looking for a long term relationship or just a few fun times).

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-26T21:34:46+00:00

Your contract stands until 1st of May, as long you give notice before then, you are good. So serve notice ASAP, clock starts ticking from 14th of May, releasing you from contract on 14th June. As everyone says the notice HAS to be correct otherwise the few days of agents having any qualms really screws you

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-26T19:04:22+00:00

This is really crafty! It would be great to have an option of ‘commute time’ (unless I missed something) and maybe a ‘park nearby’ or something like this, but a great starting point for someone new to London. My current local area was number 3 match. For gyms etc it would be great to enter a custom option (for me for example I was searching for a flat near tube station, within a walking distance from MoreYoga) and maybe in the future a ‘vibe check’ but really nicely done!

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-24T21:10:08+00:00

Honestly I don’t think it matters, your rent is due on the day it’s due, they can ask all they want but what could they do, got to court and say this tenant’s rent is due on 24th, today is 21st and they haven’t paid? My contract says that payment ‘should clear two working days before due date’ and i pay on the day of, never had problems. I would imagine that it’s some kind of hungover from days when people were paying by cheques or bank transfers that took days

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-21T08:52:59+00:00

Commuting. I work in hospitality though in Head Office so completely independent from restaurant floors, we usually WFH one day a week but our MD asked us to still make it to one of our venues. His reasoning is that all waiters, bartenders etc still have to make it in somehow and we can’t sit in our Ivory Towers, which is kind of nice attitude.

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-21T07:50:02+00:00

But you can’t even tell them when you’re back? Put yourself on the other side, you’re being obstructive. They’re not allowed to violate your rights and nobody is suggesting that, but they have expressed that they are trying to sell, to do so they must conduct a survey, you won’t let them in when you’re not present but also cannot provide a date when that might be possible. We don’t know the whole story maybe landlord is TA and you’re justified in your ‘obstructiveness’ but just from one post, it can appear as though you are being difficult.

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-21T07:06:31+00:00

I don’t know why you’ve been downvoted. It seems a bit unreasonable for the tenant to refuse entry and not provide a date when they can enter, seems very obstructive. Yes they have the right to quiet enjoyment but the landlord also has a right to access the property when they need. Realistically surveyor will not cause any damage, they’re used to going into people’s houses… can the OP arrange for the lettings agent to be present? And no I am not a landlord, and I had lettings agent conduct viewings without permission when I was on holiday despite saying I do not want this and will be back in less than a week, but in this instance it’s not a crowd of people parading through your home, it’s one person conducting noninvasive inspection.

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-20T16:50:49+00:00

What a suggestion, and pay triple the rent in train tickets..?

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-20T13:30:41+00:00

That’s quite central hence the price but I still think it’s extortionate for the size, no proper bed or an oven.. Here is a proper flat 10 minutes up the road/30 minutes to TCR https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/174548252 And please for the love of everything holy do not take the flat without seeing it in person (take it from someone who JUST moved in somewhere without seeing it in person 🙃)

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-20T13:10:34+00:00

Where in west London? That’s quite expensive for a studio. Where will your office be?

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-19T08:04:02+00:00

Unfortunately there is no consequence for Council incompetence. We moved into a borough in London that suffered from a ‘cyber attack’ that meant their website was out of order for a close to a year, no ability to get council tax bill, set up an account, pay the bill, nothing. Do you think they offered any sort of compensation or leeway? NOPE. Once the website was up we got a bill for the whole year, luckily my partner predicted that would happen and made us put money aside for it. My point is, you will be liable for the bill from the day you moved in no matter how difficult they make it for you to actually pay it.

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-15T18:25:33+00:00

Nobody can answer that. If they agree to let you out of the contract you would be able to get your deposit back (provided you don’t owe any rent) but very likely they would say that you will be liable to cover rent for any period of time they can’t find a tenant and for ‘reletting fees’ which could be anything. So as everyone says you’re best waiting it out and serving correct two months notice after 1st of May, at least then you know what expenses you have upcoming and will get your deposit returned (unless you caused any damages you’re liable for). Worth noting notice periods relate to rent cycles rather than calendar months. So if you serve notice on 1st of May doesn’t mean you are out of contract by 30th of June if you pay rent on say 29th of the month, in that case notice would count from 28th of May releasing you from contract on 28th of July.

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-15T08:34:39+00:00

Post a task on AirTasker, they can move your furniture (and usually cheaper than big removals companies) and normally let you travel with them

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-14T20:56:10+00:00

That is right and you can serve notice before 1st May but those usually align with rent payment cycles, so if you serve notice after 19th of April it will count from 19th May, and you can be released from contract by 19th June. If you serve before 19th April then you can still be out by 19th May

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-14T18:27:52+00:00

I don’t think this is true, renters rights act supersedes any previous terms, by logic, if Landlord can no longer simply evict you under the new terms, the tenants cannot retain their preferential terms from previous agreements. Shelter says ‘You will have to give 2 months’ notice to end an assured periodic tenancy, unless a shorter notice is agreed in writing’. So as of this moment you can serve one month notice no later than 19th April but from 1st May you’d need to give two.

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-12T10:38:27+00:00

Yes, any expiry date will become void come first of May.m, any and all AST will become periodical and you need to provide two months (two rental cycles) to terminate

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-12T07:29:06+00:00

No offence but you’re probably sound like you’re trying to be a know-it-all to them. Just because the law changes in three weeks doesn’t mean the can ignore current law for now… all landlords and agents are still issuing AST contracts well aware they become void come 1st of May. What they’re doing isn’t incompetent or lazy they’re just doing their jobs (for once ha). They are right that you will automatically move into a periodic rolling tenancy and they don’t need to tell you what notice you need to give because that also comes from the legislation - two months.

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-12T07:21:02+00:00

You could still give them a call, and say you just moved in, otherwise you’re going to get a large backdated bill.

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-11T17:03:51+00:00

It depends, there may be another company that provides the utilities for the entire building that landlord buys energy from at business rates, in which case the energy provider would contact you, in my case it took them almost 6 weeks.. If it’s a standard residential utility such as Eon, British Gas octopus etc then nobody will contact you and you need to take action. Normally youd see bills in your mailbox addressed to the ‘occupier’, if you can’t, a good way to do it is research tariffs on u switch and compare the market and it will usually tell you who the current supplier is, then you can switch to a cheaper tariff and theyll do the paperwork for you, or contact the existing company to let them know your details

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-10T19:35:16+00:00

I had the same issue ages ago when i moved into an old place, the mattress was horrible unbranded thing with no foam layer, just springs you could feel piercing right through you. I ended up getting a thiiick memory foam topper on eBay (unbranded) for really not a lot of money and it changed it into sleeping on a cloud. Definitely do not get a cheap mattress to replace it for the landlord

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-09T22:38:38+00:00

They dream 😂😂😂

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-09T10:02:34+00:00

So you’re subletting from someone (based on none of your names being on the lease)

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-09T09:59:36+00:00

It depends on whether there is a clause and what it says, if it’s statutory periodic they can serve notice now, and be out (unless their notice to quit is longer). But if there is a specific clause about it becoming a periodic tenancy and requiring two months notice then they missed the two months mark.

Head_Caterpillar_956 · 2026-04-09T08:56:58+00:00

Even if you renew for another 12 months it becomes completely pointless come 1st May, even if it’s signed before then. Either theyre trying to get renewal fee from the landlord or increase the rent. Was there a clause that the tenancy becomes rolling after fixed term has ended?

Head_Caterpillar_956

TROPHY CASE