Competing to rent a house?

amazingred

We have recently paid an application fee to rent a house which was advertised, we were told there and then after filling out the forms and details for a credit check that we have the house and its secured. It's been 10 days now and the estate agents haven't contacted us after leaving numerous messages. We finally got some news today that we are now competing for the property and this could take up to 4 weeks?

What can we do from here as we were promised the house after the 200 pound application fee? with the fees being 'non- refundable' can we not do anything about getting a refund if somehow we don't get the property?

Any information would be great as me and my partner feel like we're completely lost on what to do.

Gingernutty

Start demanding your money back - they are not to charge you for registering your details nor for showing you properties.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/private_renting/renting_privately/letting_agencies

amazingred

Thanks for the reply and link, we absolutely love the house and have our hearts set on it so we may have to wait it out. Is this usual practice for estate agents to do this sort of thing?

AdrianC

My suspicion is that several people have applied for the place, and all the details are with the landlord for a decision as to which of you they prefer as a tenant. I would expect that your payment won't be processed unless and until that's you - and, if it isn't, you'll get your money straight back. I _suspect_ what's happened is that either you've not understood or they've not explained this properly.

amazingred

Thanks for the reply!

They've taken the money from my bank account and were not told anything about competing for the house, the lady who served us seemed to know everything that was going on when we applied and even said congratulations after we finished applying!

I really thought with renting a property it was first come first serve and not compete all at once. Wouldn't having the landlord choose which tenant he would like from a list of details be classed as discrimination?

pmlindyloo

amazingred wrote: »

Thanks for the reply!

They've taken the money from my bank account and were not told anything about competing for the house, the lady who served us seemed to know everything that was going on when we applied and even said congratulations after we finished applying!

I really thought with renting a property it was first come first serve and not compete all at once. Wouldn't having the landlord choose which tenant he would like from a list of details be classed as discrimination?

Trouble is you wouldn't know if it was discrimination because you don't know the other possible candidates!

The honest answer is that the landlord has carte blanche on this.

My only suggestion is to offer a higher price but be warned this might lead to a pricing war!

AdrianC

amazingred wrote: »

Wouldn't having the landlord choose which tenant he would like from a list of details be classed as discrimination?

Only if the landlord declined because of one of a short list of "protected characteristics". If he refused somebody because of their gender or national/racial origin or religion or sexuality or...
https://www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights/types-of-discrimination