UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi
My tenant wants to leave after six months (he has a 12 month contract) but has only given one month's notice instead of the agreed two. Can i use his deposit to pay for the second month's rent? I have a mortgage on the property and one monh isnt sufficient time to get another tenant in. Thank you.

The honest answer is no, however you are allowed to charge reasonable costs to relet. So if you take a month to relet it, pay for advertising, agency costs, redecoration/tidying costs, council tax  etc etc, you could end up charging them more than one month. I am usually clear with them that I will return any deposit when they ask - prior to departure - it is my intention to do so. But the contracted costs are just that, mydeposits will side with you in any dispute, dps probably wouldnt.