Moving out - No lease signed

jonesyr

Hey was hoping someone on here might be an expert in this sort of thing...

Here is the situation...
Three of us moved into a 3 bed-room flat a few months ago, we were given a lease to sign but we never did, and they didn't chase us for it, so we just didn't bother with it!

Now one of us has to move away somewhere else at short notice, and myself and the other tennant now want to move out as well.

We paid a deposit (one months rent) when we moved in and we are now thinking we dont pay the last months rent, which is due on the 14th, then stay until the 14th of Feb and then move out after that.....

However we are not sure what to do about the letting agency...

Two options
1.) Tell the agency, and say we are moving out on the 14th of Feb and we will not be paying last months rent, and that will clear our deposits.

2.) Not tell them anything, and hope they don't chase rent, then move out on 14th Feb and inform them then.

We would quite like to go with option one and tell them now, but we are nervous they might turn round and kick us out on the street!

Anyone have any advice on the situation?

athtrasna

You are not entitled to use your deposit as your last month's rent.

odds_on

You have not signed a lease so you automatically have a Part 4 lease.
With a Part 4 lease, you can give the appropriate notice and leave, any time and retain your deposit.
The notice is called a Notice of Termination, and you can download a sample (with notes on how to fill it in) from the PRTB site. Notice period required: if you have been in occupancy for less than 6 months, 28 days notice: occupancy of between 6 months and 12 months, 35 days notice required.

As athtrasna has said, you are not entitled to use your deposit as the last month's rent.

Bigcheeze

Go with option 1 as the landlord is likely to try and retain the deposit.