Rental agent dirty tricks - help!

ladymisswolfe

Hoping for some advice here!
Found a house we like locally a couple fo days ago, and viewed with the agent. While there we told him we had to give a months notice and he said fine. We gave the forms in the next day with references and bank statements etc. Today we checked our crdit files and saw they had done the credit checks so we called. All had gone through fine but they said the landlady wanted us in in 2 weeks time! We said we weren't aware of that, and that we'd told them we had to give a month's notice, and we'd also put it in writing when we gave the application in. We said we weren't going to breach contract with our landlord, and given that this new poroperty's last tenants did a runner, that the landlord probably woudn't want tenants in who were prepared to do that.
They suggested we cross over, so effectively rent two properties at the same time for two weeks! So thats us paying £350 quid for nothing then.
WE said no and they're calling back tomorrow.
Now we know the next door neighbours to the new property a bit and they said they were surprised that the landlady would do that - they are still in touch and looking after a few bits on the house and said they were very reasonable people.
Th agency allso said there's been a lot of interest in the property but in fact the neighbours say there's only been 2 viewings in the last 4 months!
So, can they do this - and should I be wary if the landlord is insisting on 2 weeks notice? IT makes it sound like either a dodgy agency or the landlord being desparate for cash - therefore possibly in arrears with the mortgage?

Sorry its a bit long but I really confused!

tealady

Hi There have been a few cases recently where landlords are in debt and have had their properties repossessed the tenants have then been homeless. If he really had that much interest he wouldn't need to press you so you are wise to be wary.
I would tell the agency that you cannot move in 2 weeks and they can take it or walk away, put the ball in their court.
Either that or tell them you will move but want the 2 weeks rent free!!

RichyRich

Look at your tenancy agreement. If it states it begins on x date, it begins on x date.

BettyDebt

The EA we used to rent our latest property used the same ploy with us. THe most the landlord would hold the property for is 2 weeks etc etc. We stood our ground and said you can see we're serious tenants, we're paying our deposit, rent up front etc etc and we wish to stay long term. We are responsible and wont just dump our current landlord. Our terms are xyz and we'll move in at this date etc. I said they had to offer that to the Landlord as thats the best we could do and get back to us. Funnily the called me 10min later to say no problem. Bird in the hand and all that...

Enfieldian

Sooner the agent gets you to move in the sooner they can deduct their fees from the first months rent.......

ladymisswolfe

Thanks all for the great advice and support. I'm going to stand my ground - bit sick of being conned as a tenant all these years and fed up feeling like a second class citizen sometimes!
Expecting a call today so will update later!

dobbie82

its not that odd to overlap rentals is it? I have to give a months notice from the rent date (17th) so now I would have to give notice til 17th of april, if I found a house I liked, I would not risk losing it for the sake of 2 weeks?

bap98189

The agency are just trying to pressure you into starting the lease early. That means they and the landlord don't have 2 weeks when the house is empty and earning no rent. It's not a sign the landlord is in trouble, just a sign they don't want to lose 2 weeks rent.

Call their bluff, it is very unlikely they could get another tennant any quicker if they have to go through the same credit checks etc. Odds are they will back down rather than lose a tennant who is waiting to pay them money. They won't want to risk the house being empty even longer.

stevetodd

If the property has been empty for months (you said there has only been a few viewings in the last 4 months) then it's very unlikley that the LL would insist on moving in 2 weeks if you dig your heels in

ladymisswolfe

dobbie82 wrote: »

its not that odd to overlap rentals is it? I have to give a months notice from the rent date (17th) so now I would have to give notice til 17th of april, if I found a house I liked, I would not risk losing it for the sake of 2 weeks?

HI Dobbie,
I think it's the principal of the thing. It's been on the market at least 4 months and too ovrlap rentals costs me £325 - which is money down the drain completely for me. I think that's very unfair to ask of anyone to be honest. If I were buying a house, I wouldn't complete but not be able to move in for 2 weeks.

silvercar

If you were buying, the whole chain needs to agree to the same day; its often the case that people in the chain need to put themselves out for a day or two so that everyone can agree a date.

If this is the only house that you like and is likely to be available then I would negotiate on the two weeks rent. If this is one of many you like then you can afford to let it go.