estate agent changed mind about letting house

debsy1963

My son paid a bond on a house a week ago and the estate agent told him that would secure him moving in. Now they have rang him up and told him the landlord has decided his friend is having it. The decorators were in the house painting and a friend of the decorators
(who just happens to be a friend of the landlord ) were walking past the house, went in look around rang the landlord or estate agent and said they wanted it.The estate agent said that once the bond was paid the ( to let ) sign would come down, which it ha'snt done.
Can the estate agent and landlord do this

G_M

Unless a tenancy agreement has been signed by the landlord or his agent, no tenancy can be enforced.

However, the LL/agent should return ALL monies your son has paid.

They may try to retain some saying they had to use it for credit checks orwhatever - but that is their problem, not your son's, since it is the LL who has changed his mind.

Insist on full refund.

debsy1963

Hi thanks for the reply
The estate agent said he can have his money back but he's gutted about them changing their minds , he really wanted the house.
So is their nothing that can be done

G_M

debsy1963 wrote: »

Hi thanks for the reply
The estate agent said he can have his money back but he's gutted about them changing their minds , he really wanted the house.
So is their nothing that can be done

1) Glad there is no dispute over the money.

2) See my reply above! (or try offering to pay a higher rent....)

tbs624

debsy1963 wrote: »

Hi thanks for the reply
The estate agent said he can have his money back but he's gutted about them changing their minds , he really wanted the house.
So is their nothing that can be done

As G_M says, it is good that there is no issue over the return of the holding deposit (as there shouldn't be).

You son will learn to take what LAs say with a huge pinch of salt. Ts are persuaded to hand over these holding fees and there is no benefit to the T in doing so.

This LL probably thinks that he is onto a winner by offering the tenancy to someone known to him, although many LLs find this to be more problematic than they expected.

Your son could try contacting the local LL association for contact info for LLs who self manage their properties or ask the local Council if they hold a list of accredited private sector LLs.