Tenant moving out after 2 weeks!

C

c-mac

Guest
Hi,

My girlfriend and I recently rented out our house to a social welfare tenant for the first time. She gave us a months deposit and a month up front.

Yesterday she advised us that due to personal reasons she is moving out over the next few days (after only moving in the 15th December). She also advised she topped up the oil €200.

Our queston is to more experianced landlords, where do we stand in relation to what we give back to her i.e. Her deposit and/or oil allowance due. Do we just give her the full amount back and another 200 for oil. or should we hold some/all of the deposit for only giving us ~2 weeks notice?

Any advise or comments is appreciated.

Happy New Year.

Colin
 
When I was in the same situation a couple of years ago, I rented a house for a couple of weeks and in doing so I lost one months rent. I never even expected to get it back as I felt so bad telling the landlord that I was moving on so soon. It may take you a couple of weeks to find new tenants so I would not feel guilty if you do not return deposit or reimbursing her for oil.
 

Well, obviously your tenant hasn't had a month's 'use' of the place! Everyone has 'extenuating circumstances' in their lives from time to time and the future is never predictable.

As a previous poster has said - it's up to your own conscience whether you pocket her unused rent. You are the landlord
 
Perhaps you will know how much of a loss you need compensation for when you get your next tenant. Then you can return money to the original tenant on a pro rata basis. So - no-one looses out and everyone' s conscience is happy. [....now about the oil.....!]
 
I wouldn't give back money for the oil but would giver her back the deposit.
 
As per the 2004 Residential Tenancies Act, the tenant is required to give 28 day's notice for a tenancy period of less than 6 months.

As you've only received a few day's notice, you would be within your rights to withhold the equivalent of the 28 day's notice.

As for the oil, you may want to see a receipt for it and could offer it to the next tenant?
 
If you get some one in straight away then she should get what is owed, ie full deposit,If it takes you say until the last day in January which would be 6 wks from date she moved in, then I would give her back
2 weeks rent. You should not lose out and remember the government is paying for her, the oil is tough on her and good for new tenants,
 
Thanks for the advice everyone.

We think we're going to go with the pro-rata approach depending on how quickly we can get a tenant and hard luck on the oil.

Hope every one had a good new year,

Thanks
 
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