Tenancy Agreement terms

Mozzanov

I'm definitely a very unsuitable tenant. After spending over ten years in a housing association property, I'm so used to their terms (pay on time and don't annoy neighbours, then you're left alone), which are much more reasonable and flexible.

Thanks for those tips and I'll keep them in mind if I don't manage to find a place to buy (I'll still move as I want to be closer to work).

longtimelurkersam

Mozzanov wrote: »

I'm definitely a very unsuitable tenant. After spending over ten years in a housing association property, I'm so used to their terms (pay on time and don't annoy neighbours, then you're left alone), which are much more reasonable and flexible.

Thanks for those tips and I'll keep them in mind if I don't manage to find a place to buy (I'll still move as I want to be closer to work).

I am in your boat....10 years homeowner used to drilling holes and hanging art where I want etc. Had to move to another part of UK for contract work so kept my home in Kent, but need home comforts. I just ignored the clauses drilled and fixed what I wanted and live how I wish on the basis that I am aware I need to return it at my cost to the condition it was when I moved in less fair wear and tear. ;-)

Teresa_Green

Mozzanov wrote: »

So, the money (holding deposit) has been retrieved in full (despite them trying to keep it). The cheque was finally received yesterday. Now I'm looking (for the second time) to buy instead, before committing to renting yet again.

Mozzanov, I would be interested in more details of how you got your money back, due to being in a very similar situation myself at the moment?

Looking at renting a flat nearer to my work, currently a home owner of 10 years plus, not rented for 20 years and so relatively new to all this.

Paid £100.00 for checking of references etc which was taken from my account pretty much immediately. Then next day both referees contacted via email and replied / returned same day, got email saying "you have been accepted for this property and as soon as references confirmed we will be in touch immediately to arrange move in date". Heard nothing, thought they had forgotten me.

Due to my job can be very busy and not always immediately available.

Three and a half weeks later the woman at the agents has now been hounding me daily for a couple of days - both contact numbers, emails and texts. I phone her back, she says "I had almost given up on you!!" so I reply just wondering why it has taken you three and a half weeks to get back to me? She says "oh, yeah, well we were waiting for YOUR REFERENCES to come back". Did not tell her that I knew for a fact both replied same day but now getting uncomfortable feeling about all this as you have had and not even gone on to the actual reading or signing of anything yet!!!

So have left it that I will phone back with a date for looking at and signing agreement etc. (However not told them I am now not sure I do want to go ahead with spending the £3,000.00 for 6 months Tenancy to be treated as above).

If I don't get my fee back then so be it, better than paying the £3 grand. Just wondered if I could get my £100.00 back too?

Mozzanov

I actually didn't even tell them specifically why I was turning them down, just in a follow-up email (to a response from them about contract terms) I told them that all things considered, I do not wish to progress and to refund the money. I included my address to send the cheque (as I already knew from their terms they issue a refund by cheque only).

The slight difference here is that I had not submitted an application form. They had not provided a holding deposit agreement for me to sign.

Of course, the response I got was that the holding deposit was non-refundable. I'm not going to stand for that rubbish and I already knew they gave me bad information.

I responded that their terms do not state it is non-refundable, but on the contrary it is, with reasonable charges deducted (up to the whole amount) for admin fees and if the property is off the market for 30 days. Now, as they had not done any real work, I responded by quoting their terms, stating I had not provided them with an application form and they had not provided me with a holding deposit agreement. In the spirit of being reasonable, I would agree to a £35 charge. If the money wasn't refunded by x date then I would contact trading standards and then progress on to the small claims court for the full amount, if required.

Well, I got a refund in full and it arrived on the deadline day.

£100 for checking of references sounds a bit much (especially as it was simple emails), so why not try to get some of that back, especially as they failed to get back in contact with you (in a reasonable amount of time) with a move-in date. You could always ask them for £80 (£10 per email) to be refunded, or you will contact trading standards and pursue the full amount (plus court expenses) via the small claims court?

Although I didn't mention why I wasn't going ahead (I just figured they would understand after my questions and stating there were several things I wasn't happy about, including not being able to see the contract I'm supposed to sign), you should as it's very unreasonable they didn't call you or send a letter regarding move-in date and lied about the reasons why the didn't.

Good luck with whatever you do!