Signing a Tenancy Contract

Nicole_B

Hi Everyone

I need some advice please.

We are moving from Norfolk to Gloucester on the 2nd August, we are renting a flat in Gloucester and so have been through all the referencing with the Letting Agent, we have received the tenancy agreement but they have stipulated that we both (me & my partner) have to be there at 10am on the 2nd August to sign the agreement. I have explained to them that it is going to be near on impossible to do that.
I shall be leaving Norfolk at 5am to get to Gloucester for 10am to pick up keys from agent etc and my partner will be in Norfolk loading the van and sorting out the house for the letting agent to take care of.
I have spoken to the Letting Agent who are not helping and say we have to both be there at the same time to sign, or they could move the tenancy date for us. My partner starts his new job on the 4th and I finish my job in Norfolk on the 1st.

I'm sitting here trying to figure out a way to do it and coming up against a brick wall. My Partner is in Gloucester today for some training and I asked if he could come in and sign today and I would sign on the 2nd but they said NO. Basically I am looking for some ideas on how to do this as I am stressed beyond beleif

clutton_2

both sign the agreement if you are both happy with it and send it back recorded delivery - then see what they say.

have you met them ? - if you have not - they simply may wish to meet you before agreeing to let you sign an agreement which is reasonable - but this could be achieved at any time - and the agreement is not lawful till they have signed it as well so i dont see what the problem would be if you sign it and post it

Premier_2

Sounds like it's going to be a letting made in heaven. :rolleyes:

God knows what will happen if you ever need to contact the LA for any problems, repairs, etc.

Tell them to stuff their TA where the sun doesn't shine and seek a more professional letting agent to rent through. Sounds like you you've had a lucky escape.

hippadeemo

My partner couldn't be there to sign the tenancy agreement when we moved into our current flat (he was working in London, we were moving to Cheltenham), we went in and he signed it on the Saturday before we were moving in and then I signed it on the day when I went to pick up the keys with my Dad. It didn't seem to be a problem.

BenL

I think your partner needs to pop into the office today whilst he is up there and sort it out face to face.

Hopefully they will see sense.

Nicole_B

I would love to tell them where to shove it but we are 10 days from moving and love the flat. The owner of the Letting Agency showed us around the properties a couple of weeks back and he couldn't have been more helpful.

I just can't see what the problem is with my partner signing the agreement today in person and me on the 2nd.
They said that they need to witness us sign both our copy and there copy in the office, and then they will hand the keys over.

I admit to burtsing into tears and after the phone call as I just don't think they realise how far it is travelling distance and how hard it is to co-ordinate everything.

JoeA81

I dont think there is any legal reason why THEY have to witness you sign the agreement.

I just signed a new tenancy agreement with a private landlord, and there was a section for someone to fill in that they have witnessed my signature, but it doesnt have to been the LL/LA. I just got a friend to witness me signing the contract, and then fill in their details saying they had witnessed me sign the contract. Then I sent the two contracts to my new LL to sign themselves. (There was also a section for someone to fill in saying they had witnessed the LL sign the contract).

Could you suggest this form of "independant witness" to your LA?

sooz

I think they are being difficult for the sake of it.

There is no reason for you to have to sign your tenancy agreement ON the day you move in. This can be done now.

If they insist on you doing it together in the office, can you go both there this weekend?

Nicole_B

I'm going to get my partner to go in today and sign it. They are being stupid and I shall giive them a call in a min and tell them this and I shall email them a map of where they are and where Norfolk is just so they can understand that we can't just pop down when they want us to :mad:

I would love top go this weekend but my partner is a chef and has to work this weekend.

I have just realised that we only have one weekend to go before we move, I am no where near organised at all! :eek:

JoeA81

Yes, tell them they are being unreasonable. Every tenancy agreement I have ever signed has been days or weeks before the actual moving in date. If they are obsessed with witnessing you sign, there is no reason why they should not accept you signing on different days.

Keep an eye on this LA. It looks like they like to make things difficult for their tenants. When you move in, make sure you go through the inventory with a fine tooth comb, and get them to agree and sign everything written on it. And take photos of absolutely everything just so you can prove their condition at the start of your tenancy. Dont let them get away with anything that is unreasonable.

Debt_Free_Chick

Agree entirely with JoeA81. Legally, anyone can witness a signature on what is, effectively, a deed. In fact, it's advisable for the witness to be independent of the parties. The LA might not be a party to the agreement, but they are connected by virtue of being the LL's agent.

Perhaps ask them "why must YOU witness the signature? My understanding is that anyone can witness a signature" and see what they say. They may be labouring under the misaprehension that it must be their signature as a witness, which is not so.