I started a new job in August, doing four weeks training in Birmingham where I stayed with friends, but then started on site in Nottingham two days after finishing my training. This left me with two days to find somewhere to live and to move all of my belongings.
In my haste I agreed to rent a room in a shared property and subsequently signed an ‘assured shorthold tenancy’ for a six month term, purely as I couldn’t risk not having a roof over my head at night and did not know anyone in the area.
In the tenancy agreement it states that if I were to leave before the agreed six months ‘the landlord may have to recover….. damages in respect of any breach of this agreement,’ with a deposit ‘to be held by the landlord…. To be used to offset or non-payment of rent or in compensation of any other non-compliance by the tenant with his agreement under the tenancy…’
There is a bit that concern me ‘If you do not pay rent for the first six months your debt will be registered with Experian and will affect your credit rating in the future.’ Can they really do that?!
The problem is that my girlfriend stayed behind in North Wales when I moved but has now sorted out a transfer with her job less than five minutes walk from where I work and will be moving in 5 weeks. Unfortunately my tenancy also states ‘not to allow any other person into occupation of the property.’ The house is a bit of a dump and in a pretty dire area so I want out of this tenancy so that I can get somewhere decent with my girlfriend.
Any insight as to where I stand legally if I attempt to get out before the six months is up? I want to be armed with the facts before I discuss with the landlord incase she is unwilling to compromise given my circumstances. This is a private tenancy agreement with the landlord and no agents were involved at any point.