Student Let Advert Query/ Predicament

David.973

So, as a student, I'm yet again looking for next years accommodation.
This year's search has prompted two questions.
a) If a property is advertised at one price (e.g. £45pppw) in big writing by the website, yet the letting agents description states something like £55pppw, would I be able to argue that I should only be charged the advertised price, as the fault is theirs and not mine?

b) Also, if I were to rent a property at one price, e.gl £28pppw, then the agent said it was more but it did not appear in the description online, would they have to fulfil their advertisement?

Pixie5740

You go with the rent stated in your tenancy agreement which you will of course read before signing.

Cisco001

Is the advert you referring to is from same agent?
What did your tenancy agreement say?

anselld

You can argue whatever you like, but the agents are not obliged to let to you at any particular price. In fact they are perfectly entitled not to let to you at all if they feel like it.

princeofpounds

I think you are going to learn a lot about renting in the coming weeks...

No, they do not have to rent to you at any advertised price.

The number on the contract you and they sign is what matters.

eddddy

Hi David.973

You can report the agent to Trading Standards for using misleading pricing/advertising. Trading Standards may give the agents a warning, or might even prosecute them.

But even if they are prosecuted, the agent doesn't have to rent the property to you at the advertised price, or give you any compensation.


(It's the same rules for supermarkets etc that advertise incorrect prices - except they normally agree to sell a product at the wrongly advertised price as a 'gesture of goodwill', and to avoid you reporting them to trading standards. But the law doesn't force them to.)