Trying to do things by the book

[Dhink]

We rented my husbands house out to some people we felt sorry for just after we had got married on a 6 month assured shorthold tennancy, we took their deposit and put it in the DPS and gave them a tennancy agreement.

The house was immaculate, we put new carpet, kitchen, bathroom in and spent most of our wedding money so they could be in before Xmas.

We discovered that we are expecting our 1st child and with the credit crunch coming, our mortgage up for renuwal and having a house that is not fit to bring a child into we simply cannot afford to keep both houses on.

We went to the Citizens advise and then issued our tennants with a Section 21 on 23.03.08 the tennancy began on 08.12.07 and the notice says we require possesion after 07.06.08.

Have we done everything we could for our tennants? Is there anything they can do to avoid moving as we really need to sell up.

[Joa]

You have no obligation to renew the tenancy. Your tenants however do not have to move out until you get a court order. If they are still in the property after the expiry of their tenancy- they are not breaking the law. You then would need to apply to court to get a possession order. When the order is granted and the tenants are still not moving- you'd need to apply to the court for the order to be enforced. When the enforcement order is granted, and the tenants are still there- you'd need to ask the court bailifs to enforce the order. This whole process may take many months.
So talk to your tenants; ask about their plans, promise them glowing references and make them aware how much such references are worth. Talk to the about their deposit- they may get it more quickly if they co-operate. Direct the to a welfare agency- they may be entitled to some help with housing. Each council has a private rental sector housing advisers- your tenants should get in touch with them.

[Dhink]

Thanks, they have spoken to us and are really upset they asked if they could stay until the house was sold but we have refused this as they havent even unpacked in two rooms and the house looks a mess wth their furniture in it and we just dont think it has a chance selling when you cant see the floor in the rooms.
I have been looking for other accomodation for them in order to assist them in moving out on time, we feel really bad but circumstances are against both ourselves and the tennants.