Tenants rights to see a contract before signing?

lampard

I am due to go with the landlord on monday to inspect the property and create an inventory, after which I should get the keys. Yet I do not want to turn up on monday without having the chance to read the contract, which I have requested and not recieved yet.

Am I within my rights on monday to take the contract away without signing it if I am not provided with a copy before monday?

firstaspect

Yes but they will be in their rights to not give you the keys until you've signed. I'd bug them for a copy.

daveyjp

Of course you are and you should do so.

lampard

firstaspect wrote: »

Yes but they will be in their rights to not give you the keys until you've signed. I'd bug them for a copy.

Is their a specific law that I could read up on/quote. Ill ask them for the keys too but if they say no then thats fine id rather read it over than sign something i dont like.

sonastin

I don't think there is any need to quote a particular law. Under the entire UK law system, it is presumed that you have read any contract that you have signed so you are well within your rights to expect time to read it first, and foolish to sign it without reading.

BitterAndTwisted

What specific law? The Law of Logic says that if you haven't signed the contract for the property then the property isn't yours to move into. An experienced landlord wouldn't want or expect you to demand keys for a property you haven't committed to renting.

caringa

Why cant you ask to read the contract whilst you are there? We have been landlords for several years and always give our tenants time to read contracts - we wouldnt expect them to sign without going so.

lampard

I am trying to establish if their is an ACTUAL law which says they must provide me with a copy of the contract X amount of hours before I am expected to sign.

I know to look out for section 21, would there be anything else to look for? I have read the sticky on advice for tennants also.

N79

lampard wrote: »

I am trying to establish if their is an ACTUAL law which says they must provide me with a copy of the contract X amount of hours before I am expected to sign.

I know to look out for section 21, would there be anything else to look for? I have read the sticky on advice for tennants also.

In which case the answer is no there is not.

seraphina

caringa wrote: »

Why cant you ask to read the contract whilst you are there? We have been landlords for several years and always give our tenants time to read contracts - we wouldnt expect them to sign without going so.

Signing a contract on the day you're supposed to be moving in with the landlord/letting agent breathing down your neck and all your worldly goods in a van isn't exactly how I'd like to sort out my home. I presume the OP has already handed over some kind of deposit - where else would you hand over hundreds of pounds before seeing the contract you're about to commit to?

I think the agency/LL is being unreasonable in expecting the tenant just to flick through it and sign on the dotted line within 5 mins of seeing the contract. All houses we've rented we've been able to see the contract - and take it away to read at our leisure - well in advance of moving in.

sonastin

lampard wrote: »

I am trying to establish if their is an ACTUAL law which says they must provide me with a copy of the contract X amount of hours before I am expected to sign.

The law isn't that specific. You are entitled to a REASONABLE amount of time to understand what you are being asked to sign. For some people (e.g. those familiar with tenancy agreements, knowing exactly what they want/need/expect to see in it) a skim through in front of the agent 5 minutes before signing is reasonable. For other people (and some tenancy agreements), a reasonable time would mean giving you the opportunity to seek legal advice on what the agreement contained.

Your tenancy won't start until you've signed it, so unless they want a few extra days without rent, its in their interests to let you have a copy before you get to the flat.