Renting - Application Accepted - Advice Needed

amusingduck

Hello All,

Myself and my partner applied for a rental property, our application has just been accepted by the estate agents. The moving in date is the 15th of May.

Here is the tricky part. Us moving out affects other people, we would like to give these people notice, but once we have notified them we cannot afford for the deal to fall through.

When can I be happy that it's a done deal, that the house is definitely ours? Our application has been accepted, credit checked, references complete and so on.

Do we need to sign the contracts first, are the estate agents likely to delay that until nearer the move in date?

Sorry if this is a bit of a daft question. Everything thus far has been a little too perfect, I just don't want any nasty surprises.

Thank you.

Pixie5740

It's usual to sign the tenancy agreement at the same time as picking up the keys, not before.

ognum

amusingduck wrote: »

Hello All,

Myself and my partner applied for a rental property, our application has just been accepted by the estate agents. The moving in date is the 15th of May.

Here is the tricky part. Us moving out affects other people, we would like to give these people notice, but once we have notified them we cannot afford for the deal to fall through.

When can I be happy that it's a done deal, that the house is definitely ours? Our application has been accepted, credit checked, references complete and so on.

Do we need to sign the contracts first, are the estate agents likely to delay that until nearer the move in date?

Sorry if this is a bit of a daft question. Everything thus far has been a little too perfect, I just don't want any nasty surprises.

Thank you.

It is usual as far as my tenants are concerned for them to sign a contract, pick up the keys, pay deposit/rent on the first day of tenancy.

The problem for the LL with you signing a binding tenancy earlier without paying deposit/ rent is that you may never pay them but the agreement has been signed.

For the tenant if you want to sign earlier you are going to have to find rent and deposit and there may be someone living there at present who already has a tenancy agreement and is not moving out until a few days before you move in.

A LL cannot guarantee the now tenant will move out, they may have given notice been ready to move but due to unforeseen circumstances they stay on (as they have a right to do)

If the property is currently empty this will help to be sure but I would suggest a long conversation with the LL.

Rambosmum

I was always cautious an paid the rent and deposit early so the contracts could be signed, that way I knew it wasn't going to fall through.

ognum

Rambosmum wrote: »

I was always cautious an paid the rent and deposit early so the contracts could be signed, that way I knew it wasn't going to fall through.

Has the property you are renting been empty? Otherwise how could you be sure the property would be empty.

I would say that over many tenants and new leases I have never had a problem with a tenant not getting the property they have agreed. Yet! But I am cautious about signing contracts that I may not be able to fulfil.

Voyager2002

In your situation I would give notice... if the deal falls through you would be able to 'sit tight' for a while.

ognum

Voyager2002 wrote: »

In your situation I would give notice... if the deal falls through you would be able to 'sit tight' for a while.

This is true!

amusingduck

Thanks for the replies everyone.

The property is currently occupied, I have met the current tenants who are moving to be closer to his mother. Hopefully no unexpected circumstances then!

We are currently living with family, long story short, once we notify them that we're moving out there's a very good chance that they will also be moving as a result of this. We also have a dog who is coming with us (landlord aware), which is the main reason for my concern. If we announce that we are moving, and it subsequently falls through, there's the risk that we will end up having to get rid of the dog if we cannot find another suitable property pronto.

Fingers crossed, it'll all be fine.

ognum

amusingduck wrote: »

Thanks for the replies everyone.

The property is currently occupied, I have met the current tenants who are moving to be closer to his mother. Hopefully no unexpected circumstances then!

We are currently living with family, long story short, once we notify them that we're moving out there's a very good chance that they will also be moving as a result of this. We also have a dog who is coming with us (landlord aware), which is the main reason for my concern. If we announce that we are moving, and it subsequently falls through, there's the risk that we will end up having to get rid of the dog if we cannot find another suitable property pronto.

Fingers crossed, it'll all be fine.

If you are living with family I assume they only need a couple of weeks notice, could they look after the dog short term while you find somewhere else if needed?

It looks like it will all fall into place, just keep those fingers crossed!