I moved into a 4 bedroom property in Hertfordshire, England under a 10 month contract. The contract was for one room, not the house. I had to leave the property after 3 months. However, I made a verbal agreement with my landlord that I could leave as long as I found someone to occupy the room and pay rent for the remainder of the contract. I did this and she signed a new contract AND paid another deposit. That was 5 months ago. Now he is having problems with the new tenant and says he will keep hers and my deposit if he doesn’t get all the rent from her. I know this is unfair and I plan to take him to small claims court. BUT i’m worried in court he will say I ended the contract that I signed early. I think he will deny our verbal agreement. I paid all my 3 months rent. If he does do this, can I still get my deposit? I plan on writting him a letter threating court action. I was so glad to find this — I am not a solicitor, but my darling wife always says, “A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. “
I would think that in court whatever your written lease says about breaking the lease, is more important the verbal agreement.