Matthew's Journal

In the Grand Old Days of the Empire, you signed an initial assured shorthold tenancy, typically for 6 or 12 months; thereafter you went onto a rolling 1-month contract. This was good, because when you wanted to move out, you'd just give a months' notice, and all would be well.

These days, however, you have to surrender your tenancy at the end of each 6/12 month period, pay the agents a sizable fee (around £60) to photocopy the contract, and have another fixed-term tenancy. This makes you easier to evict, and means that if you want to leave early, you get shafted. It works something like this:

"There is no notice period within the fixed term tenancy.

However, you can ask for early release from your Tenancy Agreement, and we would ask your Landlord if they are are prepared to release you. If they agree, you would be expected to pay rental until the day that the new tenants take up occupation, and you would be liable for early release costs as per your tenancy information which was given to you when you took up occupation."

The "early release cost" is a charge of £60 if you've got <2 months left to run, £120 if <3, and £300 if more than that. I think you're only liable for the rent until when the tenancy would have ended anyway. Note that there is absolutely no incentive for the agents to get anyone in before that point, because they're still getting all of their money.

It stinks.