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Posted by Limp-Cricket-3898 9 hours ago
UK: Paid 6 months up front for a lease wondering about break clause?

I'm an American so for a lot of places that ask you to pay a few months rent in advance. I'm not planning on ending a tenancy early (it's an 8 month lease) but I was just curious if anyone knows anything about this: I've been asked to pay 6 months in advance and there is a break clause which says that given 1 months notice I can vacate or I can find someone to take my place... Hypothetically, if I needed to leave before 6 months would I be entitled to get back the money for the months I didn't live there? As in if I left after 4 months would I be entitled to the 2 of the 6 months rent I paid upfront?

Any input is appreciated, I am just nervous about letting!

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Posted by mikolv2 8 hours ago

Typically no, you paid for 6 months and they keep all of it even if you leave early. I'm pretty sure you would be on the hook for paying the remaining 2 months of your 8 month lease too. Sometimes if you leave early and they manage to replace you or better yet, you find someone to take over your lease then landlords might deduct a small fee but otherwise refund you.

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Posted by Bowoobiter 8 hours ago

I believe OP is asking about if they get evicted before the 6 months have passed

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Posted by mikolv2 8 hours ago

Then that's a completely different question and OP would be entitled to a refund if the landlord didn't fulfill their part of the contract i.e. let them stay for 8 months. Having said that, it's an 8 month lease, chances of an eviction happening in that time are almost 0.

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Posted by Limp-Cricket-3898 7 hours ago

yes that's exactly the scenario I mean-- if I did a tenancy swap four months in and found someone to take my spot from then on, would I be able to get that 2 months back? Sorry for the confusion

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Posted by Limp-Cricket-3898 7 hours ago

since I don't have a uk guarantor I think 6 months rent is an insurance policy to make sure I can cover it so I just don't know

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Posted by Demeter_Crusher 2 hours ago

It's a bit complicated. Is anyone else on the lease? Where did 8 months come from? That's an unusual length of tenancy in the UK.

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