Landlord might have provided a fake signature on tenancy agreement

Sabrinah_2

Hi all,

I signed a tenancy agreement 7 months ago and received few days ago a cheque from my landlord.

However, I just realized that his signature on the tenancy agreement is different from the signature on the check.

Also, I would like to know if that mean my tenancy agreement is not really valid.

Thanks,

Sabrina

chris_m

Was it let through an agency? If so, maybe the agency signed the tenancy agreement on the landlord's behalf?

Sabrinah_2

chris_m wrote: »

Was it let through an agency? If so, maybe the agency signed the tenancy agreement on the landlord's behalf?

No, I was present when the landlord signed the tenancy agreement with me. There was equally one of his friend in the property when we signed the tenancy agreement.

On the tenancy, there is the landlord middle name (I think according to the check (let say John Smith)) and surname followed below by his signature A.

On the check sent by landlord, there is his name as Paul J Smith, followed by his another signature B.

silvercar

May be the landlord chooses to use a different signature for bank stuff for personal security. No law against it.

sandsni

Signatures can change over the years, I know mine has. Maybe the LL's signature has "evolved" but rather than confuse his bank he's still using his "old" signature for bank stuff.

Sabrinah_2

silvercar wrote: »

May be the landlord chooses to use a different signature for bank stuff for personal security. No law against it.

But in this case it should be stated in the terms and conditions of the tenancy agreement.

I equally believe by law, it should be the same signature on the tenancy agreement than on others documents (related to the property) provided by the landlord.

Sabrinah_2

sandsni wrote: »

Signatures can change over the years, I know mine has. Maybe the LL's signature has "evolved" but rather than confuse his bank he's still using his "old" signature for bank stuff.

These two signatures are totally different and everybody is normally able to use his previous signature.

I equally believe, that the normal procedure when changing a signature is to formally notify everybody with whom one have a contract (under previous signature) with.

In fact, in my case, I believe that the signature on the tenancy agreement was maybe forged.

sonastin

Sabrinah wrote: »

These two signatures are totally different and everybody is normally able to use his previous signature.

I equally believe, that the normal procedure when changing a signature is to formally notify everybody with whom one have a contract (under previous signature) with.

In fact, in my case, I believe that the signature on the tenancy agreement was maybe forged.

Seems like you are pretty certain about your situation. So what exactly are you asking the forum for? Confirmation that you are right?

Personally, I am not sure what the problem is. Has the landlord given any indication that he doesn't intend to honour your agreement?

sandsni

Sabrinah wrote: »

These two signatures are totally different and everybody is normally able to use his previous signature.

I equally believe, that the normal procedure when changing a signature is to formally notify everybody with whom one have a contract (under previous signature) with.

In fact, in my case, I believe that the signature on the tenancy agreement was maybe forged.

You said in a previous post you were present when the LL signed the tenancy agreement. I don't know the legalities but I would say it can't be a "forgery" as he signed his own name, not someone else's. It might be a false signature, which I think would be slightly different. Alternatively, he may be known to most people by his middle name and so uses it in most signed documents, but uses his full name on bank stuff.



Did the cheque go through ok when you cashed it?


If you're worried about your tenancy, as long as you have proof that you have paid rent to this LL then you have a valid tenancy.


Has the LL given you any reason to believe he might try to deny the tenancy because of the difference in signature?

Sabrinah_2

sonastin wrote: »

Seems like you are pretty certain about your situation. So what exactly are you asking the forum for? Confirmation that you are right?

Personally, I am not sure what the problem is. Has the landlord given any indication that he doesn't intend to honour your agreement?

Yes, he does not want to renew our six months contract while a month ago he told me the reverse.

The problem is that everything was fine until I informed my landlord three weeks ago that I am going to apply for housing benefit since I just lost my job : he called me today saying that he has sent me a notice to leave the property in two months.

Sabrinah_2

sandsni wrote: »

If you're worried about your tenancy, as long as you have proof that you have paid rent to this LL then you have a valid tenancy.


Has the LL given you any reason to believe he might try to deny the tenancy because of the difference in signature?

I am worried about the terms and conditions of the tenancy agreement that remain or not remain legally valid.

Normally, I have to give two months notice before I leave the property : since the landlord signature is fake, do I have the right to leave before the months notice?