UK Landlord Forum / Life

My tenants have informed me that they want to move out several months before the end of their 12 month AST agreement.  As I'll be out of the country on the date they're said they want to vacate the property I won't be available to do all the final checks on the house and make sure it's secure. Can I say that they'll have to pay another months rent, or at the very least, another two weeks so that I'll be here when they move out. They've been good tenants and say they need to move out due to unforseen circumstances.

Yes of course. 
They've signed a 12 month agreement which you seem to be agreeable to terminating early (which you need not do you
Could say they have to pay all the rent until you find a replacement tenant...).
It should all be on your terms.

You are basically letting them off having to pay rent for the rest of term.

If you do this make sure you get a deed of surrender signed - so there are no issues later.

Many thanks for your reply.  This is their second year of renting from me. They first signed an agreement for 12 months then when that expired they signed another for a further 12 months.  I was worried that they could say that after one year of renting they should have automatically gone on to a month to month rolling contract which would only have necessitated them to give one months notice anyway.  Is that not the case?

Yes they could have gone onto periodic,but they chose to sign,so that is not relevant.The usual procedure is that the tenant remains responsible for rent and other costs inc.council tax,until a new tenant is signed up.Some agents also get them to cover some of the reletting costs.You should not be left out of pocket.Obviously you will do your best to get a new tenant asap,especially as they have been good tenants,but you are not obliged to.     

Thanks very much for clarifying that for me