Questions & Answers
Inability to renew the tenancy contract and extending it for one month only
Hello,
Our contract for our villa expires this Thursday, 30th April. Due to the coronavirus lockdown, we had not been able to leave our home to view other villas until the lockdown got lifted on Friday, 24th April. This gives us only a week to view properties and move.
We asked our landlord for up to a few more weeks here to give us a bit more time. In the meantime, I will let people see the villa and show them around whilst he also tries to find new tenants.
He declined and said that we can stay for another month if we pay the same rent pro-rata for a month. We explained that we cannot afford that; it is the reason why we are moving to find a cheaper place.
We offered 15,000 instead of 25,000 for one extra month and I will be happy for people to view whilst we are in it, but he also declined that offer. He has not shown any consideration for us, we find it difficult to move over the lockdown.
What is our position if we stay a few weeks beyond our contract expiry date?
Hello,
Generally speaking, if you stay past the tenancy contract's end date, and if this matter goes to court, the landlord may claim that the tenancy contract was renewed for a second term, with the same conditions.
As such, he may try to claim any penalties provided in the contract for early termination and unpaid rents.
In your case, the safest option is to either move out or agree with the landlord, in writing, to an extension of the rent term.
