What do we do?? - no consent to let

Manchee

I can't believe it...

We are due to move into a house this friday (rented), we have given notice on our current place (we are lodgers, landlady is a friend of ours who lives in the flat also) and someone else is already lined up to move into our room. We recieved a call earlier from the letting agent saying the landlords consent to let hasn't come through yet - first thing we heard about not having it! Am currently writing a complaint email, if we don't get this sorted were going to be out on the street homeless on friday, we can't afford to stay at a b+b for god knows how long, and theyve taken a nice whack of the cash that we do have for referencing and admin etc for a property that they know had the distinct possibility of never being available to rent - I can't believe they didn't tell us before now!!

We don't know what to do! We haven't signed the TA yet or given them any deposit, do we have any leverage or if they get difficult would it be small claims to try and get our money back? And more important !!!!!! do we do about having nowhere to live??? I am going to call the letting agent back tomorrow to see if the letter has arrived / have a general rant, but I was hoping someone might be able to cut through the sheer panic I'm feeling right now and give us some advice? We can't stay at our current place as a friend is moving in and has already given notice to his landlord and cant extend as his place has been sold at auction, we also don't have any friends that have room to let us stay. Oh god, what do we do?

Many thanks

ihatemyhouse

tell them to find you a place,

or

ask for your money back, as they took it under false pretence as you paid it for a property that they cant rent


it is a pity you haven't signed a tenancy, as don't think you have any rights

Guest101

You have limited options, most likely one being they find you an alternative house.

Breach of contract is an unlikely possibility, they took money from u, forming a contract. The problem is proving that contract meant the house should be ready as in reality the ll could pull out until u sign the TA. So any breach is with the LA.

Realistically your best option is to get money back, they really must return this.

ACG

There is no reason for them to not refund you, so that money should come back to you at some point.

Next bit is to sort out somewhere to stay, i wouls be on rightmove tomorrow finding somewhere thats available ASAP.

nidO

You might also want to get on to spareroom and easyroommate, they're both sites to find lodging accommodation and you're more likely to be able to find a lodging to be able to move into by Friday than another entire house or flat, and it'll be easier to lodge on a shorter term basis while finding yourself another proper place to stay longer term.