You're right that I don't know what I i'm doing, and thanks for helping me out. Re what the solicitor said about creating a sitting tenancy - I know for certain that I did not misunderstand. What she said seemed so strange to me that I asked her about 3 times to check that I did not misunderstand, and she confirmed, but she refused to say why/how this had happened. I don't want to think that she was trying to scare me so I would spend 1500 pounds (the figure she asked for) with them. And even though this sounds awful me saying so, I like think of myself as intelligent and articulate - I really really did not misunderstand her. This is why i wanted to check with this community. In fact, I walked in to a well established local estate agents to ask for their reco for a good solicitor and they were the ones who gave me the name of this company because they specialize in landlord/tenant law. It is a 2 partner business, employs several younger solicitors too and is located in a "respectable" (sorry, whatever that means) area of town. I don't mean to imply anything with this. I'm just trying to be descriptive

Thank you both and thank you for the welcome. Note, there is no issue of a rent increase.

Hi all, I have a tenant who has been living in my flat in a flat-mate situation. i.e. she is sharing the flat with one other girl. I made a contract with her using a proper AST document but modified it and called it a licence to occupy. Now I want her out (because she has a very bad disposition and nobody will share with her and also she is filthy). I've tried discussing it with her and said I will be reasonable and considerate but she refuses to talk about it. So I am forced to do it via whatever the legal way is. I've tried getting legal advice but I've been quoted huge sums for fees (between 500 to 1500 sterling) . At this point I don't think I will need to go to court or have a solicitor. All I need is to know what the proper way to ask her to leave would be. So i'm very frustrated by the responses from the solicitors. Also, one solicitor who saw my contract (the one who asked for 1500 pounds) said that I had created a sitting tenancy and I would need to go to court etc. This is perplexing. I thought sitting tenancies were for situations entered into before a certain date. my contract is only 3- 4 years old. Is it possible and how might I have created a sitting tenant? Thanks