Suprise To Let Sign!

thegirlwho

Ok, this is a fairly long story, so please bear with me.

My partner and I have been renting a property on a 12 month lease since the end of last August. We recently asked the landlord if we could get a cat. She agreed, on the basis that we stay for another 12 months. Not a problem, giving that we had no intention of leaving anyway.

So the letting agent called me yesterday morning and outlined the terms of the new contract - the cat being one. She also mentioned the landlord wanted to put the rent up. We said we were not happy with that and would only renew if the rent remained the same.

This afternoon I got a confirmation form from the letting agent that the landlord was happy to keep the rent the same. She said a contract had been posted yesterday and we should have it today. All we need to do is sign it, and thats it, another 12 months.

So, imagine my surprise when I came home and found a "to let" sign outside our house!

I found a covering letter on the contract, which said that while a contract is up for renewal, this is what they do.

However, I am very angry and upset about it. Given that we are not negotiating with them - a deal has already been agreed to!! and given that our tenancy wouldn't be over until the end of August if we were not re-newing, I feel it is unfair to "advertise" the property.

I will be calling the letting agents tomorrow and demanding they take it down. The property is not up for let!!!!:mad:

In my contract it says that I have to give permission or have at least 24hrs notice before anyone comes round to the property. Does this apply to "to let" signs?

I know it's just a little thing really, but it's really upset me :-( This is my home and I'm also worried someone else may take a fancy to it and offer more rent.

Mostly however, I'm just confused as to why the letting agent put it there!

I'm using every inch of my willpower not to go and just take it down myself!

Am I just being silly? Or is it really not on to just do these things without any prior notice, and months before the tenancy is even up for renewal!

Wee_Willy_Harris

A bit silly, maybe. You have a new 12 m tenancy agreement in your hand, signed by the LL?

princeofpounds

LA is probably doing it as much for advertising as they are to try to attract interest in the property.

Just take the sign down if you want, as long as it is in or attached to your property. You can't dispose of it unless you want to be charged (you do have a slight legal responsibility for other people's possessions even if left on your land under tort law), so just leave it lying behind your fence or something.

If they query it, simply point out your tenancy is still in force and you are free to remove a board as you are a flyposter or anything else

hellokitty08

maybe the letting agents make a mistake, it happens all the time.

G_M

They are drumming up business for the letting agency, not looking for tenants for your property.

Take a deep breath and ignore.

As long as you have a signed contract the property cannot be offered to anyone else.

Is there any fee associated with preparing the new contract?

Kez1983

When I was a student living in a private rent the "to let" sign was taken down the week we moved in and put back up a month later and stayed there for the rest of the 10months of our tenancy!

As said previously is probably just advertising for the LA.

moromir

Just a thought but it can take a few days from the LA placing instructions with the board people to the date the board actually goes up/and or comes down. Maybe when they instructed you were still negociating?