Here is a question to the blog clinic from Carol (not her real name) who is a tenant
I agreed to sublet a room off the main tenant, we agreed on a price and when it would be paid. However, we did not agree on a fixed term nor did we sign a contract.
I have given one month’s notice to leave, but he is saying I still have to pay or find someone else. Am i able to leave after the one month without being liable to pay? He still hasn’t given me a fixed term and he doesn’t live in the house. Thanks
Answer
If your landlord does not live in the property with you, you will almost certainly have an assured shorthold tenancy. I am assuming that you pay rent monthly.
As you have never been given a written contract or agreed a fixed term, you will have a monthly periodic tenancy.
This can be ended by you on giving one month’s written notice to the landlord. So your landlord is not entitled to any rent after the end of your notice period as the tenancy will have ended.
This sounds like a ‘rent to rent’ situation which may or may not be authorised by the ‘head landlord’. However this will not affect your rights against your landlord.
