Signing AST question

suestew

Hi, quick question about signing an AST, it is a legal requirement that you have to sign this in the EA office?

Reason i am asking is that we are moving next year and will be driving 180 miles with 3 cats in the car, and I asked if they could meet us at the property but they have come back with below:

Unfortunately due to legalities with a letting agent all paperwork has to be signed in the office on the day of move

tim123456789

suestew wrote: »

Hi, quick question about signing an AST, it is a legal requirement that you have to sign this in the EA office?

Reason i am asking is that we are moving next year and will be driving 180 miles with 3 cats in the car, and I asked if they could meet us at the property but they have come back with below:

Unfortunately due to legalities with a letting agent all paperwork has to be signed in the office on the day of move

No, they are putting up barriers for the sake of it

suestew

tim123456789 wrote: »

No, they are putting up barriers for the sake of it

thought so, how do I call their bluff then?

So annoying, I would have to park in a car park round the corner and we could not leave our precious cats in the car on their own. what do they expect we go in one at a time to sign the AST? grrrr

They have shot themselves in the foot now, as we will be buying once settled and are cash buyers, I will not touch their agency with a barge pole

moromir

Are you handing over funds for rent and deposit? If so the agent could easily be uninsured to take cash outside their premises.

DRP

suestew wrote: »

thought so, how do I call their bluff then?

So annoying, I would have to park in a car park round the corner and we could not leave our precious cats in the car on their own. what do they expect we go in one at a time to sign the AST? grrrr

They have shot themselves in the foot now, as we will be buying once settled and are cash buyers, I will not touch their agency with a barge pole

I would at least ask them what aspect of 'legalities' they are concerned about...

suestew

moromir wrote: »

Are you handing over funds for rent and deposit? If so the agent could easily be uninsured to take cash outside their premises.

We are paying for 6 months rent in advance as we do not currently have jobs. I am pretty sure she said we would have to transfer that money 2 days before as they have to have cleared funds, and we certainly would not be handing over that much in cash.

tim123456789

moromir wrote: »

Are you handing over funds for rent and deposit? If so the agent could easily be uninsured to take cash outside their premises.

My previous letting agents weren't insured to take cash ON the premisies (it was cheque or card only, makes sense really).

Yorkie1

Ask them which particular piece of legislation they are referring to ...

DrPepper123

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Ask them which particular piece of legislation they are referring to ...

Thanks, I am going to speak with them tomorrow

I don't know what their problem is.

theartfullodger

Yes, agree with the above:

For a tenancy agreement in E&W of less than 3 years it doesn't even need to be written - verbal is OK (but not recommended - difficult to prove what was agreed...).

They might have some justification in suggesting if someone else is witnessing then they need to see whoever is signing sign,....

Yet another example, I suspect, of a letting agent not understanding the law... Sigh!!!!

However, if you want the place, you've got to accept their rules or run the risk they'll take their ball away....

moromir

I have to say I'm not quite understanding the problem of going in to their office to sign... The cats will be quite content in their baskets for 20 minutes while you sign up... or if you're that worried ask if you can bring them with you in their baskets..

Honestly it sounds like you are being equally difficult..