UK Landlord Forum / Life

I have a family of four who have been renting a house from me for 5+ years. Never had any trouble. Rent paid on time always. Nice people. Sadly they are splitting up. The woman wants to stay in the house with the children. She has been told by Universal Credit dept at the local job centre that she needs a new tenancy agreement ASAP. Their rent is always paid on 28th of the month in advance. She wants to change to 18th. Now I don't think I can just issue another tenancy agreement being as the current joint one is until Feb 28th 2019. I really do not know how I handle this situation. Can anyone guide me please?

You can end a tenancy agreement early if all parties agree to it, so that's not a problem as such. However, you should consider whether the remaining tenant will be able to afford the rent on her own. If you do decide to issue a new tenancy agreement, I'd limit it to six months in the first instance and also consider a guarantor.

As said, an AST with a fixed term can be ended by all parties agreeing to do so - it's not fixed in stone, it's fixed in that neither side can unilaterally end it.

Ensure there are funds available for the future Tenant to pay and not leave you in the lurch. Councils will pay in arrears, not advance. Unless you're prepared for, and accepting of, a gap?

Thank you for your advise. Hopefully I have it sorted out now!

Hope you don't mind me jumping in on this tread
My Tenants are splitting up also, they have been in for nearly 3 years and are on a periodic monthly payment since the original AST ended, no problems
One would like to stay, the other moving out hasn't given me notice and not sure they will.
Would it be best to issue a new AST in the remaining tenant or just carry on as before?