rental contract signed-tenant not moved in

julie03

my friend signed her tenancy agreement starting on the 2nd jan and the landlord wasnt ready so she agreed to a change of date, which was today. they was going to sign a new contract today

landlord has said he is not ready yet and she can't move in.

she is being evicted from her current property as landlord wants the property back and informed the baliffs before christmas that she had a new property to move to, and everything has now fallen through. Is there anything she can do, her current landlord is getting really peed off.
I thought AST was a legally binding contract but she has been told as she hasnt moved in it isn't valid

G_M

There is a difference between a tenancy and a contract.

A tenancy does not exist until the tenant takes up occupation.

However, a contract exists from the date agreement is reached (either verbally or in writing).

You say your friend signed, but did the landlord? If yes, a contract exists, and the tenant can sue for breach of contract and claim whatever costs she incurred as a result of the breach (eg hotel fees?)

If the LL never signed, and never agreed a firm start date verbally (always hard to prove of course), then no contract exists.