This article is currently being updated and some advice might be out of date. Contact advice@luu.leeds.ac.uk if you have any questions.
What happens if the landlord and/or housemates refuse my replacement tenant?
The landlord doesn’t have to accept any replacement tenants, but they can’t unreasonably refuse them either, providing the tenant fits the requirements of the place they are renting e.g. is a student and similar study group level as the other housemates.
The landlord can hold you liable for the rent, but they also have to allow you to find someone else to cover your costs. So if they are not accepting your replacement tenant and you think they are being unreasonable, make sure you gather evidence (e.g. the details of the person who was interested in your room and the reason the landlord would not allow them). You will need this to counter any rent claim the landlord may make against you.
If you have signed an individual agreement then just you and the landlord need to agree. If you have signed a joint agreement, the rest of your housemates have to agree too.
Ideally, the replacement you find needs to meet the understandings of the group e.g. same gender, year of study (so not replacing a post grad with a first year). They must also be able to pay the agreed rent and any deposit.
If you think your replacement does meet your housemates’ expectations, but they disagree or refuse any of your replacement suggestions, raise your concerns with your landlord.
Joint liability means that your housemates are also liable for your rent, so if they keep refusing your replacements you could ask the landlord to chase the other tenants and not you for any rent outstanding.
Make sure you keep evidence of who has been interested in your room and reasons why they haven’t taken it - you will need this if you want to show that the other tenants are partly the reason why the room has remained empty.