Tenancy Agreement

ginstar

I am moving approx 180 miles away from home and am due to move into my rented property on 24th July. I have been in contact with the letting agent for a copy of my tenancy agreement so that I can read and digest it before signing it but have been advised that they are not able to provide it until I have come into the office on the day of the move - this is not going to give me a lot of time to read the agreement as I will have vans sitting outside the new property waiting to unload - is this the norm for the tenancy agreement not to be issued until the day of the move?:eek:

Premier_2

Just ask them for a specimen copy.

tbs624

No. It's a perfectly normal request.

You have every right to read through a contract before you sign it, and to get legal advice on it if you want to.What's in there that they are worried about?

Are these LA's your only option? If they are, insist that you must have a copy. They are earning nice fat fees for arranging the tenancy so make them work for their money. If they won't do it, ask for the LLs name & address and contact him direct. If the LA is a member of ARLA or similar make a complaint about their behaviour if necessary.

Many LAs have few qualifications, no particular expertise and no formal training procedures yet they can still set up in this business: some of them have massive delusions about their own power, and if they are like this from the very start, you may want to look for a more professional set-up elsewhere.

scrummy_mummy_2

No...you have the right to read it and run it past a solicitor in advance of signing it (as it is a legally binding document) if that is what you require.

If your agreement is not signed in front of the LL or agent, you have the right to a 7 day cooling off period....maybe that's one of the reasons why they don't want you to have a copy in advance and wish to make you sign it in front of them! (Distance selling regulations)

Another reason they possibly don't want you to have a copy is because you may decide to query/try to negotiate some of their 'standard' terms in their agreement and they can't be bothered with it all....particulalry if you ACTUALLY took it to a solicitor whose got an ounce of intelligence about them (unlikely from a regular solicitor in my HO but nonetheless)

I am a private LL and ALWAYS send a THE ORIGINAL agreement out to my tenants with their formal offer of tenancy letter as soon as their references are returned as acceptable so that they can read it BEFORE they sign it on the day their tenancy starts and can query anything with me in advance.

Ask your agent why they won't do it and see what they say.

pollythena

Premier wrote: »

Just ask them for a specimen copy.

The agreement is probably a bog standard one that all they ever do is change the names on and tack on specific clauses to the end, so I really don't see why they couldn't send a copy to you in adavance.

Premier_2

Also, tell the letting agent they can bring the original one with them when they plan to meet you at the property on the day you want to move in/start the TA. How are they planning to agree a statement of condition/inventory with you from their office if they don't plan on attending the property???

ginstar

Premier wrote: »

Also, tell the letting agent they can bring the original one with them when they plan to meet you at the property on the day you want to move in/start the TA. How are they planning to agree a statement of condition/inventory with you from their office if they don't plan on attending the property???

Premier, they have said that I will have 7 days to query/change anything on the inventory (it is part furnished) so I assume that this will cover them having to attend the property on my moving in day!?

clutton_2

if they dont provide an agreement ahead of time - then reading it on the day - simply cross out anything you dont like and sign immediately alongside each of the crossings out - they will also have to sign these amendments - o therwise its not a legal doc.,

franklee

If you leave reading the tenancy agreement till moving in day with the vans parked outside what on earth are you going to do if the contract is not acceptable? They will have you over a barrel, sign even your grandmother away or sleep in the van!

This does not bode well for this agent dealing with you fairly during the tenancy - I would not be doing business with them. Find a half decent agent.