We are on a statutory periodic tenancy, in London. Our fixed term ended 3rd July but were served a section 21 notice on 26th June. This 4 month notice ends on 26th October.
We pay our monthly rate on 3rd of every month – per calendar month. It’s a nice round figure and we’ve never discussed a weekly rate, nor does the tenancy mention or describe the rent amount due as a weekly amount.
Our letting agent has been fabulously inept throughout our 1 year 4 month tenancy and did not advise of the amount to pay in our final days in the property. They haven’t contacted me since they issued the section 21.
I looked on the internet and calculated our rent due for October as 24 days of rent (3rd-26th inclusive) as follows: (24 days / 31 days in October)* RENT = Rent paid, rounded to nearest penny.
Immediately letting agent contacts me to say that money is owed. It’s a paltry amount but they say that THEY calculate daily rate as follows:
” £XXXX (weekly rent) X 52 WEEKS / 365 DAYS X 24 DAYS (rent paid from 3rd of each month)”
There is no mention of a weekly rate in the tenancy or in any documentation. I know that letting agents often advertise as a weekly rate, but the advert and all the paperwork says the monthly rate.
They say that I owe them more money (just over £25) and are demanding that I pay it by return. The tenancy says any rent overdue should be paid before 14 days before 3% interest is charged. There is no other information whatsoever about calculating rent payments, just the rent amount on a monthly basis.
I’m not planning to die on this hill (plenty of other hills including retaliatory eviction etc but that’s a whole other post) but does anybody have any advice on how I should/could respond? I found the websites I used before I paid the rent – on the OpenRent website. These letting agents are far more inept than any other I’ve dealt with.
Thanks for any comments 🙂
