rental flat - taken off market etc

debrag

So the LA came back to us and confirmed what work the LL is doing when the current tenant leaves in Jan.
Thing is the LL is happy to proceed nearer the time of completion and the LA will call us mid Jan with moving in details.

Does this sound funny to you?

BitterAndTwisted

Not necessarily but I suppose it depends on what work needs to be carried out once the current tenants vacate. They could be the kind of folk who are insisting on their "quiet enjoyment" and aren't letting the LL do anything while they are in situ.

I'd be keeping in close contact with the agents to ensure you know what the time-scales are but of course this all depends on what your own dead-line is fo vacating where you are now.

If you haven't paid any money over to the agent yet I'd keep viewing other properties just to be on the safe-side. Who knows, you might find something else which suits you better or is less expensive in the meantime?

clutton_2

as a LL this sounds very reasonable to me... i never know exactly when a tenant will move out, until they do, and sometimes refurbishment jobs run over time, especially in bad weather. AS a LL i could not agree to sign an AST without knowing exactly when the jobs were done, as if they weren't finished on time and you had a signed AST i would have to house you in a hotel (if i had no other empty properties at that time) !! which i dont exactly want to do....

debrag

Well the kitchen is only 2.3m x 1.6m so very small , getting new flooring & kitchen plus painted throughout, I can't see it taking long at all.

Where we live now we can pay weekly if we need to..

G_M

If you want to be sure you have a place to go, ask to put a small holding deposit down with clear written agreement that
a) it is refundable if the LL changes his mind and
b) that it will available at the latest before (and agree a date that give the LL ample time)

That way you know you won't lose out, the LL knows he has a tenant lined up, but you leave some flexibility on the date.

Of course LL might be worried the current tenants won't move out meaning either he continues with them or has to get a court order, either of which leaves him with a problem with your agreement.

debrag

Another thing the landlord has said (according to the LA) that he will take the property of the market and no more viewing will happen.
The property is still on the LA site plus rightmove with 3 different agents. I know 2 of them are working together as the one I first contacted sent my details to the LA we are dealing with as I assume it's more local.

G_M

Either it's off e market or it isn't!
Get a friend to ring up and ask if it's still available. If the agent syas yes, you'll know it's not being held for you! Go back and clarify, preferably with the LL.

debrag

I don't know who the LL is yet

dizziblonde

Rightmove seems to take a day or so to update (I learnt this when the house we were mid-purchase of accidentally got relisted as available instead of sold SSTC) so don't take too much store in the fact it's still on there if this is a very recent rental. Propertybee for Firefox will show you changes made to rental listings as well as buy listings so you can keep an eye see if it's been recently changed or not (they might be playing silly beggars and leaving it on to lure customers in ye olde "drat that one's just gone this morning... however have you seen x y and z we've got on our books too" manouver).