can they do this?

stagolee

i moved into a flat with a mate of mine about six months ago , the rent is a bit high but its a nice location. we signed a twelve month lease on moving in and have moved all our stuff in fully expecting to extend the lease at the end of the year when it runs out.
i got a call from the landlord yesterday to say he is selling the flat and we have to be out within a month, can we have the place cleaned up for thursday so he can have people around to look at it.
now he says he's entitled to break the contract because he's selling the gaff, is this so? and if so do we have any way of getting more time out of him?

Andrew Duffy

Read your lease - unless there are terms about breaking the lease to sell the property, you are entitled to live there for the duration of the lease unless you are legally evicted for breaking its terms yourself.

KTRIC

Exactly what Andew said, unless it's in the lease it's not legal.

Downtime

Your landlord must always give you notice when asking you to leave as he has done. Landlords can ask tenants to leave without giving a reason during the first six months of a tenancy. Landlords can terminate a tenancy that has lasted between six months and four years only in the following circumstances:

• After 3 and ½ years.
• If the tenant does not comply with the obligations of the tenancy.
• If the property is no longer suited to the tenants’ needs (e.g. overcrowded).
• If the landlord needs the property for him/herself or for an immediate family member.
• If the landlord intends to sell the property.
• If the landlord intends to refurbish the property.
• If the landlord plans to change the business use of the property (e.g. turn it into offices).

stagolee

Downtime wrote:

[*]If the landlord intends to sell the property.

(thanksfor the replies though)

does this not mean that if the landlord thinks he can get even more rent from someone else he can say "oh im going to sell the place" and then change his mind after he's booted you out

dearg_doom

Happened to me last November,

It ****ing sucks, especially when the prick tries to gloat about what a killing he's likely to make by playing the Budapest property market!!!

Andrew Duffy

Those conditions are new provisions in the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 - they do not reduce the protection of your lease. Neither you nor the landlord can terminate the lease early unless both parties agree.

bacon?

here's what you do,

leave a couple of prawns in various locations in the gaf, behind radiators, wardrobes etc.., he'll have a hard time shifting the gaf then.

sometimes karma needs a little help.

thesteve

Prawns haha, amateur.... get some egg and a syringe, inject the egg into couches, carpets, rugs, behind the kitchen presses, etc, etc

skywalker_208

injecting eggs??? nice one! must try that sometime!! hehe