@littlek,
littlek wrote:I sort of like the hitman solution myself. I'm almost ready to pull the psycho-if-you-don't-like-it-then-leave routine.
Glad to see you beginning to get in touch with your inner dragon. <g>
littlek wrote:Housemates would have no legal responsibility to stay a full year and I would have to cover their rent. So.... the lesson is brought to me occasionally, but I just shy away from the financial responsibilities. I think I should talk to my landlady anyway.
Bear in mind that your landlady may want to give you some relief with the rent for the hassle you take off of her. Legal obligation or not, when tenants want to leave they leave. Although landlords can theoretically sue the remaining rent out of them, this is usually more trouble than it's worth. In practical terms, then, tenants departing prematurely and your landlady missing out on some of the rent is is a risk she's already facing. The chance to shift this risk onto you by making you the sole tenant would be worth
some decrease in your rent, leaving both a happy landlady and a happy you.