Author Topic: Anyone here know much about law? Contracts? (Read 11520 times)

Muso · « **on:** September 04, 2006, 02:58:42 PM »

Yo

I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with breaking a contract and how much SH1T you can get into because of it? Basically I'm renting a place and I want to move out, I've served 3 months of a 6 month sentance on this place, I dunno if they will let me off easy or fight me till the death. I rent off a lettings agency so I'm guessing they will be strict bast4rds.
Reason for moving is that outgoings are killing me, sharing was so much better.

Dakine · « **Reply #1 on:** September 04, 2006, 04:06:14 PM »

No 'clause' in contract?
Many do 'first/last' months rent (to move in) and if move out early/badly thats all the grief.
Ask nicely, nothing ventured and all that. BUT, if ya signed a contract with NO clause then full rent is normally expected (sorry :( ).

Searcher · « **Reply #2 on:** September 04, 2006, 05:12:08 PM »

It depends on your reason for leaving, too. I broke a contract once because of health reasons and didn't have any penalties. Maybe you can find that sort of loophole for yourself.

Otherwise, you might be able to find someone to take over your lease. Most landlords don't care who's in there so long as they're getting their rent money.

38thBeatle · « **Reply #3 on:** September 04, 2006, 06:27:10 PM »

And also bear in mind that you might need a reference-if you can find a way to get out without acrimony then that is the way to go.Could you perhaps see if you could find someone to take over- probbaly a stupid suggestion I do realise. I thought there were agencies who looked at Landlord/Tenant contracts. What about the C.A.B?

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #4 on:** September 04, 2006, 10:07:39 PM »

Ok Here's Johnny!

You won't get your deposit back even if you did stick it out. Part of life mate.

Falsify a reference. I do it for mates a lot.

Sorted.

:twisted:

Bainzy · « **Reply #5 on:** September 04, 2006, 10:29:46 PM »

Get something to give yourself an edge in negotiation - sneak a dead rat into the room and then later "discover" it or something :lol:

Elliot · « **Reply #6 on:** September 05, 2006, 09:36:01 AM »

Landlords tend to want rent (I mean go figure) - it would cost them a load of cash to sue you for the rent, which you probably can't pay.

You cant get into criminal sh1t for breaking a contract in England (in general)- you can only be sued in civil courts for the remaining contractual amount (i.e. 3 months rent). This is if the Landlord or agent can be bothered to sue you (it costs £150 in court fees to issue a claim for possession of land and then upto £500 if they instruct a solicitor and counsel to act for them). If judgment is entered against you and you cant pay you get entered on the record of county court judgments which adversely affects your credit rating. If the debt is over £750 they can petition for your bankruptcy (which costs them about £1000-£1500 in basic legal fees).

Bargain hard - tell the agents you want to surrender your tenancy because you can't afford to pay (and thus will not pay rent) and that you are moving out and they will probably relent.

Alternatively you could do a 'midnight flip' and move out without telling anyone - leave a note that you can't pay your rent and you've gone: leave the keys with the note (that is considered effective surrender in law) - in which case they probably won't chase you as they have no address to serve proceedings to.

Normally agents have to pay landlords rent whether or not the property is let, so they will want you gone and someone else in.

Ratrod · « **Reply #7 on:** September 05, 2006, 11:17:23 AM »

Wait for Ben (Twilight Oddysee) to drop in.

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #8 on:** September 05, 2006, 10:03:46 PM »

Christ on a bike just do one and sort the rest out later! :roll:

Dakine · « **Reply #9 on:** September 05, 2006, 10:44:18 PM »

All of this is why I and my mum are gonna be VERY careful from now on. To be more fair with tenants and set ground rules from offset. Pre-warned is pre-armed.
My Dad (who sadly passed away recently) was abit lenient with renters (he/mum have some rental property as retirement fund).
Therefore I am now a 'proxy' landlord and it's a royal PITA!
I am NEVER renting again without first and last months deposit and ref. letter.
You are I am sure FINE I am positive,but there are WAY too many A**HOLES out there whom I would (have in past) had to do the black bin bag/black balaclava stealth ejection on (long time ago mind).
It goes both ways. Good and bad tenants and good and bad landlords.
Be upfront and honest and that should go a looooooooooooong way (would with me anyway).
If ya need to move then let the landlord/agent know and do it (but would not expect any deposit etc. back, just way it is am afraid).

Dakine · « **Reply #10 on:** September 05, 2006, 10:49:28 PM »

Otherwise, you might be able to find someone to take over your lease. Most landlords don't care who's in there so long as they're getting their rent money.[/quote]

To HELL with that. Been caught waaaaaaaay too many times. Actually caught one tenant letting a supossed 'brother in law' use the address for mail. Thing is, 'brother in law' is of a VERY Muslim name (and renter is a VERY common English name), in this day and age Alarm Bells RANG loud. Renter dealt with swiftly and with no 'pussy footing'.

Before dad passed he had a female renter who (turns out had fled a junkie boyfriend). Aformentioned ex-boyfriend finds her, she flees again, end up having to get out junkie who was dealing and trashed the place.

Very dodgy territory.

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #11 on:** September 06, 2006, 05:24:07 AM »

Thanks for the balance Nick!! I was a good tenant until they let the flat above to a family of dodgy.. :x ..right they were Turkish wrong 'uns. There, said it. They got their kids to jump of their beds every night around 3 in the morning until it all went Red Mist

I lived there for 11 years with very little problems with neighbours. I didn't cane the guitar each day for that time. I used to work out certain times in the weekly pattern. Then it was headphones.

The management company tried and spectacularly f*cked up to convince me this was all in my head. Me and my brother tore their arguments to shreds at every available opportunity.

This bunch of parasitic scum turned up in my life during February of this year and within 2 weeks we had decided to move out and buy. It was the best thing that's ever happened to me.

If my posts this year are a bit crazy, then it's down to that and I'm still getting over my Grandad's elderly abuse at the hands of his so called girlfriend and her 50 odd year old accomplice from the f*cking so called 'Spiritualist Church'. Now those c*nts made it personnel.

You know that scene in Pulp Fiction....'I'm trying real hard to be the Sheppard'? That's me for the last 16 months.

Guitars keep you out of prison!

:lol:

Muso · « **Reply #12 on:** September 06, 2006, 10:42:38 AM »

My main reason for moving is that I thought I would like living on my own but it sucks cos its so boring. I wanna move in with some friends but their house is only open for the new couple of months.
I don't think I will get my deposit back, I never have done even leaving the house in perfect order. I don't understand why renting has to be so complicated.

Johnny did u not confront those people about their kids jumping up and down at 3am? That royally takes the piss! Sounds hard about yer grandad as well, soo temping to do some damage sometimes innit :D Keep yer chin up lad!

Dakine · « **Reply #13 on:** September 06, 2006, 04:31:42 PM »

With us we NEVER use/used an agent.
This A. allows more personal contact with tenant (also cutting out a stupid agent fee into bargain) and b. allows more say in tenant troubles etc.
My Dad (and I) were/are in the NO HASSLES PLEASE school of thought, so did right by tenants (too lenient at times).
This is/was treated as a retirment income (sans cr@p pensions) so was/is treated very seriously with ALL repairs/concerns being dealt with asap (one property now needs total new roof, goodbye £18,000+).
I think, with agents, alot of the 'personal touch' is gone and it's just a 'comodity'.
My dad/I dealt with 'bad' tenants (like yours above Johnny) with a very surgical manner!
Just trying to balance the scales is all. I work DAMN hard now (for my mum) and stress is HIGH (basically as tenenants know my Dad passed away and at least some are trying it on, y'know taking piss abit as think mum is in charge , as I lived in Texas so long). Well guess what, the prodigal son is BACK! lol. Complete with 190lb 6"1 body and 'scary' facial hair LOL, basically looking as imposing as can be. Not saying much, crossing arms and standing behind mum (like an inforcer), then if/when summit said outta place, I become a human WARPIG :twisted:
Hard work, but as ya can see, am kinda having fun in a warped way ROFLMAO.

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #14 on:** September 07, 2006, 05:49:09 AM »

Muso yes I did confront the husband. He came flying down the stairs at me after I politely asked him to keep the noise down. It was too easy as he was a f*cking Dwarf and I just staired him quiet after giving him a 10 second spiv in the face. It reduced his scheming wife to tears in seconds as her 'plan' was working in my eyes/failing in her's in that instant. Then she called the police and lied I was threatening them. I never left my flat, he came to me. The police gave them the works and she wailed and lied like the f*cking coward bitch c*nt she is. I laughed then left. 8)

I put Grandad to 'bed' along with the demons. Well once my Mr nasty comes out it takes him 3 days before he will go back to his room and stay there! If I persisted with that I wouldn't be sitting here now before work. In reality I'd be doing a life sentence for murder reduced to 5 for good behaviour! Can you see the temptation of just 5? I could! I know I know! We need to get the deterrents back in Great Britain!

Nick the human warpig! I love it mate cos that is what I'm like. 6'1" a pair of arms which will crush skulls if i need them too ( I worked as a labourer a few years back and re-ignited all my shite!!) and Irish/Glaswegian/London genetic make up that sizzles along nicely most of the time. Do you need a business partner with a miracle man!! lol pmsl!!

Take care dude and keep up the good work! :twisted: 8)