Dodgy student landlord company?!

Studenttenant

I'm 18 and have signed my first tenancy agreement to live in a block of student flats. I have paid my bond and was also asked to pay my first four weeks rent before moving in, which I have done. The date on my contract is 13th September and as I have already paid rent from then until the 10th October I was expecting to move in on that day. I was only informed a few days ago that i have to book an appointment to move in and when i went to do this was told there are no appointments left until a week later! Is that not illegal? Not letting me move in even though I've paid rent and have signed a contract dated this Monay? what can I do? I need to move in on monday as I start university that week? help.

Lokolo

I would ask for a weeks refund if they can't do it. The tenancy date is the 13th, so you can move in from them. Be firm but not rude on the phone

DVardysShadow

Lokolo wrote: »

I would ask for a weeks refund if they can't do it. The tenancy date is the 13th, so you can move in from them. Be firm but not rude on the phone

I agree totally.

OP, write to the agent and state that as they require an appointment and as they are not offering one on the date the tenancy is agreed to start, you deem the tenancy to start when a mutually acceptable appointment is offered. Keep a copy.

7891368

Studenttenant wrote: »

I'm 18 and have signed my first tenancy agreement to live in a block of student flats. I have paid my bond and was also asked to pay my first four weeks rent before moving in, which I have done. The date on my contract is 13th September and as I have already paid rent from then until the 10th October I was expecting to move in on that day. I was only informed a few days ago that i have to book an appointment to move in and when i went to do this was told there are no appointments left until a week later! Is that not illegal? Not letting me move in even though I've paid rent and have signed a contract dated this Monay? what can I do? I need to move in on monday as I start university that week? help.

How were you told? Is it with a company such as unite? It is probably on some paperwork that you have signed and agreed to.

tbs624

Is your agreement under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy or a license?

You say that the contract is dated 13 September - do you mean that the date you signed is 13 September *and* the contract also clearly states that the tenancy/license begins from that date?

From the dates you have given on there it sounds as though your rent is payable lunar monthly - if you have paid for your first 4 weeks running from 13 Sept then they should provide access from that date.

They can't just say "it's in the small print that you lose a week if you're late sorting an appointment" . They know how many tenants/licensees they have due to move in on which dates and they need to have sufficient staff available to deal with that or stagger those start dates.

Talk to your Uni's Accomms Officer if you get nowhere with the LL and/or talk to the Councils private housing Tenancy Relations Officer.

When you do move in take detailed photos of the condition of the room and be rigorous in completing the inventory.

If you are renting under an AST then check that the tenancy deposit gets scheme registered and that the LL gives you the scheme's prescribed info.

Check out the sticky up at the top of this board on tips for new renters