UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi does anyone know what my position would be.  I was in a student house last year, and stayed in the same house for my second year of university which has just started.  Unfortunately my step dad has been made redundant and I can't afford to stay in the house any longer, as I use all of my grant to pay the rent and my parents cannot afford to sub me for food etc, and finding a job has proved difficult.  I have now moved home, and travel to uni on my motorbike.  We have given the landlord a months notice that we intend to leave, although I have paid rent upto 31stDecember 2013.  I also paid a deposit of £300.  The same day that I gave notice,the landlord sent me an email advising that he has sold the property to another landlord and that I should take it up with him. This was the first time we had been informed about him selling the house.

I have contacted the new landlord, he said that he would hold me to the tenancy agreement, and that I have to continue to pay rent until he can find another tenant to take my room.  My query is can he do this?  My agreement was with the original landlord and not the new one? 

In the tenancy agreement there is a paragraph:
If you notify us after 31.01.13 of your intention to extend or leave this agreement you must give one months notice and we may increase the rental fee.

It is an assured shorthold tenancy (defined in Section 19A of the housing act 1988),

There is also another paragraph which says:

If you give us notice that you are going to leave the property before this agreement has ended, you must continue paying rent until the notice period has ended or a new tenant moves in, whichever comes first.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  My parents don't need this at this time.

You signed the agreement: that means you agreed to these terms. You have to wait untill the notice period  is up or they find a new tenant. He can sell his property if he wants too; he's not a charity or your Dad. Your agreement is for renting that physical space: not about a personal relationship with one owner. That agreement can, and does change hands when the property sells. Bother your parents about this; you're their problem, your landlord doesn't need this actually. YOU SIGNED A CONTRACT. Part of the grown up world is realizing what that actually is. Your tales of unfortunate woe are a non issue here. Your agreement did NOT say " if you have personal problems in your life this agreement is null and void".