Landlord changing letting agent

[mcshroom]

Has anyone ever experienced this?

I've just received a letter from the Deposit Protection Service informing me that my letting agent is going to be changing. I could do without this at the moment as I'm going through the process of buying a house and what I'm worried about is the tenancy agreement.

Basically mine ran out 3 years ago and I've been on a periodic assured shorthold tenancy ever since. What I'm worried will happen is that I will have to sign a new agreement and be locked in for another 6 months.

 

[Pauluk]

How long do you need the rental for now. Is your buying process going through at the moment. I assume they will have to give you a months notice (you short term contract) if you don't sign and that's after they have formulated and sent out a new agreement, which could be some time yet.

 

[Spinney]

Why haven't you received this notification from your landlord or the existing letting agent? Surely one of them should have told you?
If your agreement is with the landlord (as opposed to signing with the letting agent - I think both versions can happen), then changing the letting agent should not necessitate a new shorthold tenancy?

You could try asking on the landlordzone forum (despite the name, there are many tenants who post there as well as landlords).

 

[mcshroom]

I'm not sure yet as I'm just at the start of the process so am still arranging things like the mortgage. Probably a couple months yet minimum.

I haven't actually been given any information in writing from the outgoing or incoming agent about them changing over either, just from the deposit scheme. I think I may be phoning them tomorrow if I get chance to find out when this change is happening.

 

[Brains]

I'm a landlord.
if any change is made to the STA (such as a renewal) then the deposit has to be reregistered ata cost off about £30.
However if no changes have been made, then the STA can be left running ad-infinitum and there are no additional costs.
So why are they renewing the deposit registration ?

 

[ASC1951]

...
However if no changes have been made, then the STA can be left running ad-infinitum and there are no additional costs.
So why are they renewing the deposit registration ?

Because they don't understand the law. Any more than local authorities do - their housing benefit officers routinely insist on a fresh STA every twelve months and will not accept that the Housing Acts make that unnecessary.

Mcshroom, you don't need to do anything. Legally your position has not changed at all except the identity of your landlord's agent. You do not have to sign a new agreement and if one is forced on you you would have to be given two months' notice to bring it into effect - which your landlord could have done at any time after your fixed term expired.