Do LA have to stick to written promises?

soontobesavvy

Hi all,

I am a student renting for my final year at university with two friends. I am currently away on placement in Canada. As I am overseas, my father went to view properties on my behalf. One one which we have since applied for.

At the viewing the LA made several promises about the property, most of which are being followed through on. The one that is causing an issue is that the remaining rooms in the house would be let to other final year students/ post graduates. This was not only verbally agreed on multiple occasions, but I have it in writing (e-mail) too. The LA are also not disputing that this was agreed.

Our contracts have just come through and the LA are refusing to insert this as a clause as 'the landlord wasn't aware of the promise' and presumably doesn't want to follow through in case the other rooms aren't let.

Is there anyway they are bound to their word? We are concerned that the other rooms will be let to energetic first years and we won't be able to focus. the frustrating thing is we don't want to lose the house as it is otherwise exactly what we were looking for.

Thank you in advance.

princeofpounds

If you haven't signed contracts yet then nothing is binding, sorry.

The agent is perfectly capable of committing the landlord to something, that's what being their agent means in legal terms - they represent them. (You are contracting with the LL by the way, NOT the agent).

But it's not a commitment unless its in a contract. Which for evidential purposes normally needs to be written.

And even if it's in a contract, enforcing the term is another matter. If you do end up with first years, what are you going to do? Sue the landlord? The first question you will be asked is to quantify your damages and there is highly unlikely to be any way you can do that. So it's going to be meaningless, frankly.

dimbo61

Many " First Years" are now 25/30 years old!
Many Post grads and 2/3 year students still live like pigs and party most nights!
Are you on a " Joint and several" contract with people you have NEVER MET?

dimbo61

The joys of "Student Letting"
Many lenders do not like students ( I wounder why that is?)
Many lenders will not lend if more than 4 tenants or NOT " Joint and several"
Many lenders will not lend if HMO with or without Licence.
Many Insurance companies " Do Not Like Students" ( Again WHY!)
This is for both Buildings Insurance and Contents.
Many Universities are now spending MILLIONS on new buildings including New Halls of Residence with En-suite at £130/150 a week plus £9000 in fees ( More poor in debt students)

soontobesavvy

princeofpounds wrote: »

If you haven't signed contracts yet then nothing is binding, sorry.

The agent is perfectly capable of committing the landlord to something, that's what being their agent means in legal terms - they represent them. (You are contracting with the LL by the way, NOT the agent).

But it's not a commitment unless its in a contract. Which for evidential purposes normally needs to be written.

And even if it's in a contract, enforcing the term is another matter. If you do end up with first years, what are you going to do? Sue the landlord? The first question you will be asked is to quantify your damages and there is highly unlikely to be any way you can do that. So it's going to be meaningless, frankly.

Thank you - this is exactly what I was thinking but I had hoped I was wrong. Thank you very much for your help.

dimbo61 wrote: »

Many " First Years" are now 25/30 years old!

Hence why I referred to the energetic first years. I my experience many more mature students elect to live on their own for various reasons.

dimbo61 wrote: »

Many Post grads and 2/3 year students still live like pigs and party most nights!

I do not disagree with you here, but I feel that those in small groups are less likely to be the party type.

dimbo61 wrote: »

Are you on a " Joint and several" contract with people you have NEVER MET?

I'm actually not contracted at all at the moment, but the property is on individual contracts.

dimbo61 wrote: »

The joys of "Student Letting"
Many lenders do not like students ( I wounder why that is?)
Many lenders will not lend if more than 4 tenants or NOT " Joint and several"
Many lenders will not lend if HMO with or without Licence.
Many Insurance companies " Do Not Like Students" ( Again WHY!)
This is for both Buildings Insurance and Contents.
Many Universities are now spending MILLIONS on new buildings including New Halls of Residence with En-suite at £130/150 a week plus £9000 in fees ( More poor in debt students)

I wasn't asking for opinions regarding mortgage lenders, insurance providers or the construction policies of many institutions but thank you for this information.