Rental Agent asking for Rent 2 weeks early due to their New Year Hols

oliviaolivia12345

account no longer being used thanks to bullying from forum members.

puddy

ask them if you would be allowed to pay it late for january for example, because you are ' closed' for the new year and unavailable. i suspect that wouldnt be ok

N79

3rd Jan is a Sunday. So the last non bank holiday (the day that your rent would have to reach the agent so that there are cleared funds on the 3rd) is the Thur 31st.

If you pay by cash then you need to ensure that the agent receives it by this date. You could post the cash through their letter box on the 31st but you would have no protection in case of a subsequent dispute.

If you wish the normal protection of a receipt etc then you will need to pay before the LA's holiday or arrange to pay by bank trasfer so that the transfer reaches the LA's account on or before the 31st.

princessamy86

Could you pay cash directly into their bank account? Not sure when the banks will be open but I'm sure there will be a day around 30th or 31st when you could pay in. All you need off the letting agent is a paying in slip.

DVardysShadow

I would either tell them to get stffd or give them a post dated cheque on 23 Dec for 3 Jan.

If they are closed on normal working days between Christmas and New Year, then the fact that the rent is late is down to them. I would be quite bolshy, pay on the 4th and face them down over the 'fine'.

adg1

oliviaolivia12345 wrote: »

I usually pay my rent in cash on the 3rd of every month.

Pay your rent by standing order, to clear on the day it is due each month. They can't have an issue then as the bank will process the payment (bank holiday dependent) on the same day each month, whether they are open/shut/gone home early or give any other excuse!

With regards to the early payment, tell them that you will put the money directly into their bank account, by either counter transaction or internet transfer to clear on the day it is due.

It is nothing to do with you that they are shut for 11 days.

theartfullodger

Any fine for late payment, unless very small, has been ruled by OFT as unfair so the LA can f..... off on that one...

If they think they have the right to vary the payment date presumably they must think it OK for you to do likewise - I'd be tempted (it might not help) to reply, thanking them for their kind suggestion, but suggesting you pay 10 days late as they thinking paying 10 days early is OK...

I'd strongly favour getting their bank details and paying your cash in at a bank branch /doing a bank transfer on the last possible day. That way you can prove you paid..

btw any Letting Agent who wanted cash I would be very suspicious of... did you want to do it cash ?? If so, fine.,..

Also maybe read the tenancy agreement and see what it says exactly... It might just be that turning up at the agents offices clutching a wad of £5-ers (with a witness) on 3rd January would be enough to satisfy your commitment. It is, after all, their decision not to open on 3rd Jan: Clearly you'd be happy to pay as and when you already agreed to. Their problem if they can't be a****d to get out of bed & receive money: Me, I'll always take money, 24x7...

Cheeky bleedin' agents..

Cheers!

Lodger

(NB Refer the agents to this thread... they can always present their legal opinion - if they have one..)

tbs624

As others have suggested: thank the LA for their letter, and ask them to confirm which of the following 3 options they prefer:

payment direct into their account on 31st
payment by cheque through their office letterbox
payment in person when they re-open.

*Why* are you paying in cash each month anyway?

If you've paid a tenancy deposit, has the LA/LL scheme-registered it ( assuming deposit paid/tenancy renewed for further Fixed Term post 6 April 2007 , property is in E/Wales and is let under an AST)

mariaadam

Hi,

I work at an estate agents and although it would be lovely to tell them to get stuffed, please dont. You dont want to get a fine after all.

If they are usually open on a Saturday then you should have that to fall back on, as other people have said, its not your fault.

Please check your contract as see what it says on there - if you need to post on here for me to look at or private message me and I am happy to do that for you.

Another alternative would be to contact the landlord directly but that depends on the tenancy agreement you have so again would depend on contract.

Overall it is not fair for you this way and we are actually allowing our clients to pay a couple of days late due to the New Year which falls a awkward way for 2010.

Good Luck!

m x

mariaadam

Hi again!!

With reference to you renewing your tenancy every 6 months ask if you can do it for 12 months if you plan on staying there or possibly but a break clause in. If you keep paying the fee every 6 months they will keep charging you - its easy money for them!

We have many clients that also pay by cash like you but this is something we do to help the clients, it actually says in their contract they are suppose to pay by direct debit or standing order.

Let me kneo if you need anything further

DVardysShadow

oliviaolivia12345 wrote: »

They also charge me £70 plus VAT every 6 months just to renew my tenancy (i.e print out the same bit of paper they did last time and just change the dates) which I also find excessive, but I go along with it all the same as it is in my contract.

Actually, the legal law trumps the agent's contract. It is your legal right to remain as tenant on the same terms with 1 month's notice from you and 2 from the Landlord after the 6 months term is up. If that gives you the security you want, then don't bother with their new agreement.