Letting Agency Changed Mind On Agreed Price

superbez

My wife and I viewed a property over the weekend which was advertised at £975pm. We really liked it and went back to the office to complete the initial paperwork. We paid a £200 holding deposit with the rest of the money to be paid (deposits, first months rent etc) on the day we move in. I signed some documents and we left. I have just been back in today to provide proof of address and photographic ID as requested to be told they have made an error and the price should have been £1050pm. They have pretty much said if I want it i'm gonna have to pay the extra. Can somebody please let me know where I stand here, can they do that at this stage or do they have to honor the initial agreement?

Thanks!

BitterAndTwisted

Depends on what that "initial paperwork" was and whether it truly was an "initial agreement" of some sort. Obviously they feel that whatever it was that you signed isn't legally-binding or they wouldn't trying to pull such a stroke on you now.

hamster2013

unfortunately - welcome to the uk rental market
until you have signed the shorthold agreement - and even then - until you have moved in - none of it is valid and therefore the land lord can very well decide to increase rent before that and inform you.

i would ask for the £200 reimbursement and go to a different agency

superbez

Pretty much what I had feared. Oh well, gonna pay the additional money reluctantly as we have run out of options now. Thanks.

Guest101

You can ask to meet them half way, as gogw. They have a tenant hooked, they probably would, so as not to have to wait, even a week extra would be 250, which is a months difference in rent

superbez

Unfortunately this particular property is highly desirable and I know for a fact that they had at least 50 phone calls on the first day inquiring about it. I was lucky in the fact that I went in early to work and spotted it quick. I was on the phone at 9.00am the second they opened. In fact some guy manged to get there before me even though his appointment wasn't till after mine and was shown round first, on the understanding that first refusal still went to us should we want it. He found out we were signing the papers and offered to pay £100pm month more on the spot! Makes me wonder if the 'accident' with the price wasn't quite as I was told but like I said, it really was that nice that I'll pay the extra money just to make sure we don't lose it (unless of course they were not allowed to do that, which is the reason I asked)

Yorkie1

Have you actually signed the contract yet, or just a holding deposit?

If just the holding deposit, then either you sign the AST at the higher price, or walk away with your holding deposit back.

If you have signed the AST at the higher price, then you're bound to it.

If you have signed the AST at the lower price, then they're bound to it but expect a notice of rent increase / possible s.21 if you won't agree at a later point.