Agent and Landlord Fallen out and now landlord disputing tenancy agreement

[Stevenson1]

Help needed .... brief summary below

 

We (the tenants) signed a three year lease with no break clauses. The lease was signed by ourselves (the tenants) and the agents (on behalf of the landlord).

 

The landlord and the agents have subsequently fallen out and we are now having to deal directly with the landlord (we are now 4 months into the tenancy)

 

The landlord has phoned us today to say that the lease that we signed is null and void as it is not the lease that they agreed to as they wanted a six month rolling (so basically the flexibility to get rid of us when they want - I have a feeling they now want to move backto the uk)

 

They have now proposed a new lease - six months rolling

 

We are not happy about this as we moved here for three years as we have 2 young babies and are looking at buying land to build on to move out into the new home after three years and this has made me feel very unsettled!

 

We have paid £3000 on decoration as we did plan on staying for the three years

 

So my question is - is the lease now null and void?

 

Any help would be gratefully received - with 2 babies you can imagine how I feel!

 

Thank you!

[mariner51]

On first reading & without sight of the signed AST, if there was a business contract between LL and LA to find T, produce AST and act as AST signatory for LL as agent, then the 3 yrAST is valid IMO. LL's dispute and claim is against LA.

3 proviso's

1 Did AST include section 1 or 2 as grounds for early repo, before you signed the AST?

2 The fixed term did not exceed 3 years and def did not contain a break clause?

3 Did you request in writing, permission for redecoration and get written approval before work commenced from Agent? Hopefully, copies of dated, written request & approval were kept by you.

If everything is kosher, then you will have to be model Ts for 2.5 yrs and not give LL reason to seek s8 repo OR you could negotiate cashsettlement for agreeing to early surrender of 3 yr fixed term Lease.

[Stevenson1]

Thank you for the reply.

 

As I can see it we are within our rights to stay here for the 3 years but now will come the decision as to whether we want to? I could imagine the landlord being incredibly difficult.

 

Decision to be made now is do we agree to the revised terms and leave after the 6 months but we can't find another rental property that we love and we are still a long way off finding a suitable piece of land or renovation project!