Standard notice period for a 6month tenancy agreement?

[AndyKH]

Hi, can anyone tell me what the standard notice period is for a 6 month tenancy agreement? Nothing is stated in the terms and conditions of our contract so i'm guessing there must be a 'standard' period. I've searched the internet but keep getting different answers. Has anyone got a definitive answer?

Thanks

[V8mate]

Have the six months expired? If not, it's six months from the commencement of the contract.

[V8mate]

Following the expiry of the original contract and the 'rolling' renewals described above, I have often seen the notice period set out as one month by the tenant and three months by the landlord.

Very odd that you have no contract though. AST agreements are freely available.

[AndyKH]

Well the agreemant was for 6months but the contract doesn't actually give a specified period. The area which should state the period was left blank by the landlady. The 6 month period ended on the 21st of this month, so saturday. The landlady is now saying we agreed to a 12month period and must give 3 months notice. The way i see it is, the agreement doesn't state a period length therefore is the minimum a shorthold tenancy can be .ie 6months and from what i've read on the internet we need to give around a months notice. (i've read various lengths from 28days to 35days)
Am i right or do we have to stay here for another 3 months as we have another house lined up.

Thanks again.

[Caruso]

It can be quite difficult to find this clause on 6 month tenancy agreement. Try looking under the Special Tenancy Conditions section near the end if there is one.

We have to give our tenants 2 months notice, but they only have to give us 1 month.

[Dupont666]

AndyKH said:

Well the agreemant was for 6months but the contract doesn't actually give a specified period. The area which should state the period was left blank by the landlady. The 6 month period ended on the 21st of this month, so saturday. The landlady is now saying we agreed to a 12month period and must give 3 months notice. The way i see it is, the agreement doesn't state a period length therefore is the minimum a shorthold tenancy can be .ie 6months and from what i've read on the internet we need to give around a months notice. (i've read various lengths from 28days to 35days)
Am i right or do we have to stay here for another 3 months as we have another house lined up.

Thanks again.

Strange that you did not put down the 6 month thing on the agreement, but noticed it was blank and then left it that way and signed?

Why was that? I would have got it put there as its a contract... Before signing.

Now you have an issue of a 50/50... your word against theirs!!

Suspect you now need to come to "an arrangement"... ButI wouldnt let on that you have new accomodation as it will put it in their favour!!

[AndyKH]

We didnt spot the error until after we'd signed, silly i know. Surely the fact it is blank makes the period 'default' to 6 months as the minimum?

Thanks for all the swift responses though, really appreciate it.

[AndyKH]

V8mate said:

Following the expiry of the original contract and the 'rolling' renewals described above, I have often seen the notice period set out as one month by the tenant and three months by the landlord.

Very odd that you have no contract though. AST agreements are freely available.

Hi, we have a contract but nowhere in the terms does it state notice periods. In the terms section it just says 'A term certain of *blank* months/years from 21st may 2009'. then as a side note it says 'The number of months must not be less than six.Housing act 1988 s.20(1)(a)'

The landlady is saying her contract states 12months in the term length but on our photocopy it is blank. The landlady is private so it's a very basic agreement.

[AndyKH]

Ok, thanks very much for the swift responses. her contract was signed by myself, my partner and my mother as a witness who just happened to be here at the time of renewal. The landlady has just been in touch and has caved in. 4 weeks is fine and just needs a final leaving date. Seems she has realised she didn't have a leg to stand on.

Thanks again guys.