Student Accommodation

CM86_2

Hello!

I recently went to look at a flat, and when I was there the landlord said the rent was £68/week, however I got the tenancy agreement contract document thing through today, and it says £72/week. When I rang up to query this, he said that the flats on the corner of the building are £72/week, and the rest are £68.

Is there anything I can do? If it helps, I have a printout from the website that says that the flats in the building are the lower price.

Thanks!

tr3mor

No, the price on the contract is the price you pay.

You could always haggle, or try to get one in the middle, or walk away and find a landlord that doesn't own lots of places, the smaller ones tend to be much nicer.

peace

As mentioned, the contract price is what you'll pay. Don't sign it if you're not willing to pay that amount. You should definitely call the landlord to account on this as he provided you with wrong information, although I'm not sure if there's anything you can do if he just refuses. Try and get a non corner one for cheaper if you don't really mind, or if at all possible WAIT. There is more than enough student accommodation for everyone. If you can stay with friends or commute for the first few weeks or so, you'll be able to get a good deal as landlords would rather get a little than nothing later on; and you can negotitate about summer rent etc. Also, take full advantage of your student union for advice with greedy landlords not giving you your money's worth. Personally I think it's worth paying a few pounds extra for a nice landlord!

tr3mor

If your landlord comes across badly don't go with them.

I'dtry to make sure your landlord has a good grasp of english. I know alot of the landlords in Manchester are Chinese or Indian descendents, and worm their way out of their duty by claiming they don't understand either the law or what you're trying to tell them.

That's not saying there aren't some absolutely shoddy British landlords though!

peace wrote:

Personally I think it's worth paying a few pounds extra for a nice landlord!

This man speaks sense.

CM86_2

I've already paid a deposit though, on the understanding that it was £68... Am I entitled to this back? I know £4 a week doesn't sound much but when it's coming out of a meagre loan it is!

kittiwoz

I can understand how that could make all the difference if £68 was a the top end of your budget already. I should think you can get the deposit back. I assume it's the normal deposit you pay when you take a house or flat to help insure the landlord against your damaging stuff or defaulting on the rent. If you're not going to be his tenant you can't do either of those things and he still has the opportunity to let the flat to someone else so he isn't loosing out financially. I don't know the situation legal though.