On the fixed term contract, a couple of things.
a) once you've completed a 6 or 12 month contract (depending), you more or less are guaranteed the opportunity to rent on a rolling contract, usually with a few months notice in advance of moving. Given the LJC LEFT what, over a year ago, there is absolutely no reason why JM couldn't have exited the contract. Additionally, when a tenant moves out, an affordability check is run on the existing tenant to check whether they have the disposable income to be able to afford the rent. If a tenant is discovered to have bad credit (as JM implies endlessly) the general consensus is that the tenant may have to pay the next x amount of months upfront. The affordability check will also determine whether the tenant, with all income coming in versus outgoings, has a certain percentage to live off. No respectable landlord or estate agency will take on a tenant that will only pass an affordability check by the smallest of margins because it presents a financial risk. Given that LJC is a shrewd person, I highly doubt that the crappy bungalow was rented off a charlatan (lol) and instead a reputable agency/landlord who would be ensuring that the financial integrity of the property is in tact.
b) it's actually bullshit that you can't exit a fixed term contract. Me and my ex signed up to another 12 month contract last summer and had split by the autumn. Neither of us were prepared to stay in the property (me for location, him financially couldn't afford it) and the absolutely bog standard normal estate agency allowed us to serve our notice, so long as we paid up front for the re-advertising fee (plus I think a get out clause fee).
Given that LJC left over a year ago, there is zero excuse as to why JM is still purporting that she is stuck in the crappy bungalow.