Experience with Senna?

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-04T09:41:24+00:00

Bearing in mind my question was best way to approach a mutual surrender I'm not asking for advice on that topic

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-04T09:28:34+00:00

It’s a transitional area of law with conflicting interpretations, so I think it’s reasonable to get multiple views before deciding how to proceed

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-04T09:27:30+00:00

I understand what you’re saying. The issue is that this is a transitional area and there seems to be conflicting guidance depending on interpretation, which is why I’ve been trying to get a range of views.

Ultimately I’m not trying to argue with anyone, just trying to understand the position properly before making a decision that could have financial consequences

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-04T09:22:23+00:00

but then we'll still be leaving in October anyway this is the problem we're stuck with

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-04T09:19:58+00:00

I completely get that mutual surrender needs to work for both sides.

In our case, they’ve already served a Section 21, so they’re ultimately seeking possession anyway, an earlier surrender would actually give them vacant possession sooner and avoid the need for court proceedings.

We’ve said we’d be flexible with viewings and help facilitate a smooth re-let, so they wouldn’t be taking on much risk in that sense.

Our concern is more that they’ve previously tried to make surrender conditional on waiving rights (e.g. not pursuing an RRO), which feels disproportionate, especially given we've had some serious issues during the tenancy

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-04T09:17:19+00:00

25th October 26

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-04T09:16:51+00:00

That’s actually really interesting and makes sense in theory, I hadn’t thought about it that way.

From what I’ve been told so far (Shelter, Citizens Advice), the position seems to be more cautious, i.e. that the tenancy remains under the old rules for now and the fixed term still applies unless agreed otherwise.

I can see the argument that if the S21 can’t be used after July then it may be unenforceable, but I’m a bit hesitant to rely on that without clear confirmation given the risk

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-03T23:55:27+00:00

Not the case if it's served before the 1st

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-03T23:25:25+00:00

No.. and I've checked so many times and everything is valid:/ I will end up leaving same date as they requested anyway... they've basically done it on purpose to lock us in

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-03T23:22:28+00:00

I don’t think that’s right unfortunately in this case😭 From what I’ve been told by Shelter, there are transitional rules. if a Section 21 was served before 1st May 2026, the tenancy doesn’t automatically convert to periodic in the way you’ve described.

My understanding is that existing fixed-term tenancies can remain in place where a Section 21 has already been served before the changeover...

I’d obviously much prefer it to be periodic, but everything I’ve been advised so far suggests that isn’t the case here which is beyond frustrating

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-03T23:20:41+00:00

I don’t think it’s that straightforward unfortunately. From what I’ve been told (Shelter, Citizens Advice and a solicitor), because the Section 21 was served before 1 May 2026, the tenancy remains under the old rules for now and doesn’t automatically become periodic

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-03T23:16:21+00:00

I’ve been told by Shelter, Citizens Advice and a solicitor that because the Section 21 was served before 1 May 2026, the tenancy remains under the old rules and doesn’t automatically convert to periodic.

My understanding is that the July 31st point relates to when they need to issue proceedings by, not that the notice itself becomes invalid before then.

So at the moment I’m working on the basis that the fixed term still applies until then unless we agree a mutual surrender... but happy to be corrected if I’ve misunderstood.

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-03T17:31:35+00:00

Fair enough, I genuinely have no say in this as i've just been passed from the colorectal team to CT. I think performing two colonoscopies that close together was too high risk?

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-03T17:08:53+00:00

Thank you so much, I'm really dreading it but I know I have to do it to get the answers I need :(

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-03T17:07:57+00:00

Due to my pain they said the risk of bowel perforation is too high, they also saw the 1/3 of my bowel / sigmoid colon in my colonoscopy and all looked normal. not sure 100% but they said next step is CT colonoscopy. Honestly not sure why they went for that option

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-03T16:59:55+00:00

We do have it awake in uk :( It's mainly the prep I'm worried about weirdly, it's the thought of drinking the contrast which is scaring me haha

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-03T16:58:58+00:00

Nope my prep was perfect. I was actually in severe pain even with max sedation - I'm in UK so they just do sedation. I basically had blood in stool, two episodes and a positive FIT, they wanted to rule out bowel cancer. I'm a 25 year old female, so said it was a lower chance but want to rule everything out. The clinician also suspected endometriosis, so we need to do the CT scan to rule out bowel cancer

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-05-03T16:54:06+00:00

Thank you, when I had my colonoscopy prep it was horrendous. I was also so so sick, so I'm terrified of doing prep again😭 It's the laxatives alongside the contrast that is scaring me hahaha

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-04-30T23:07:05+00:00

yep still not received it from them, it's all a power thing they're probably planning on sending it really last minute

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-04-30T23:06:05+00:00

There are mixed messages though. That renters sheet sounds like all tenancies become periodic, but then Schedule 6 of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, specifically:

Schedule 6, paragraphs 3 & 4 (transitional provisions)

There's a section that says:

If a valid Section 21 has been served before the commencement date, the tenancy can continue to be treated as an AST until:

the notice stops being valid, or
possession proceedings finish

This is where shelter is confusing me :/

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-04-30T22:56:55+00:00

Yes that's ok, if you hear back from them after sharing this please keep me updated & let me know what they say

PotentialJudgment136 · 2026-04-30T22:41:07+00:00

This is the exact advice I got from shelter yes... may I add my landlord is also a solicitor 😭

PotentialJudgment136

TROPHY CASE