Britfag here. According to http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk

>>17947662
>meaning I now have to stay in this shithole until the 20th of feb.
But you'd have to stay until the end of your lease anyway...?

>>17947662

1. How long is your lease?

2. When did it start?

3. Is there anything in your lease which stipulates notice periods for given situations?

4. If you do not give notice, what (if anything) does your lease say you have to pay/forfeit?

At the end of the day, if you signed an agreement where you agreed to give a period of notice, you'll have to do so or face whatever financial sanction the agreement stipulates.

>>17947671
End of my contract is for 3 months, ending 2nd of feb

>>17947702
1. Contract period was 3 months, specified to end on 01/02/2017 in the contract itself
2. 02/11/2016
3. My contract states that if I don't intend to renew my contract "on expiry of this license", I must give them 6 weeks notice
4. The contract says nothing about getting more money out of me, but the agency has told me by email they would expect payment for the month of Feb.

Additionally, that's not what I've heard from either the other landlord I spoke to today or from landlord blogs online (as linked in the OP), which is why I am trying to find if this is indeed stated in any legislation.

You are not able to enforce part of a contract that is unlawful by nature.

>>17947702
Nevermind, found it.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/284440/oft356.pdf

Page 89.

Example of unfair terms:

>At least one month's notice is
required from the tenant before
termination of existing contract.
Failure to do so may result in the
deposit being retained by the
landlord due to loss of income.

>Please note the contract is for a term
certain and can only be terminated
by giving notice. Should the tenant
not wish to renew the contract at the
end of the agreed term notice in
writing of two calendar months...
must still be given. Failure to comply
with the forgoing will result in
proceedings being taken for
recovery of the notice period.

Office of Fair Trading revision of terms:
>The tenant is asked to keep the
landlord informed of whether he
intends to leave at the end of the
fixed term or renew the tenancy.

>>17947724
I've done a little bit of notice and I've found this
>http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/private_renting/ending_a_tenancy/ending_a_fixed_term_agreement
It seems to suggest that you don't normally have to give notice *unless* your lease says that you do. There's also a number you can call for free advice at the bottom