For tenants who want to move to a different neighbourhood, but are tied up in long-term leases and high cancellation fees (e.g. two months rent)<p>If you were a landlord would you pay these cancellation fees to acquire tenants?<p>I am trying to understand if there is a market for such a service, because if there is then a tenant can "subscribe" to this service and have the freedom to move around without being tied up to long-term leases. The cost of this service is a slightly higher "subscription fee" instead of paying rent
Can't speak for others and this is not indicative of the idea not having merit but...<p>For me, I wouldn't. I've owned multiple properties and have rented out those properties without much issue. If anything at a certain scale having a reliable yet affordable option for property management makes more sense. I just never got to that point to feel about the existing property management companies in my area.
In my area (Los Angeles, CA) landlords have the opposite problem. Tenants are tied up in long term leases and the landlords want them out so they can raise the rent for the next tenant. There are cases where the landlords ate not only waiving any cancellation fees, they are paying to relocate tenants to other areas.
So your service would effectively be the tenant? Certainly an interesting concept although the landlord would have to agree to sublet.<p>The lease agreement for my apartment for example says I can sublet but I can't allow my tenants to sublet so I don't think I could use it. I don't know if that's common outside of London.<p>What's in it for the tenant though? If an individual needs that level of flexibility but want something beyond a hotel then there are options such as serviced apartments in most major cities.