Tenancy agreement with openrent

mag21

Hi,
My husband and I will be returning to the UK in the near future. We have found a property to let with a company called "openrent".
Since we won't have jobs when we get to the UK, we have offered to pay the 6 months tenancy period upfront to the landlord. The landlord has agreed, however openrent have a standard tenancy agreement which according to them can not be amended. The contract that they have issued us with states that the rent would be paid on a monthly basis. When we asked them about it, this was their reply:

"Unfortunately we aren’t currently able to support collecting any additional months’ rent either within the tenancy agreement or in collecting payment.

Landlords are welcome to sign additional paper agreements with tenants which go beyond the terms of the contract we provide, and this is the usual way of accommodating a requirement for the tenant to pay multiple months’ rent in advance. Payment of the additional months’ rent will need to be made directly to the landlord by the tenant, taking into account the amount the tenant has also paid to OpenRent for the first month’s rent and deposit".

As they are not willing to change the contract, can anybody suggest an appropriate agreement that we as tenants and the landlord can sign stating that we will be paying him the rent in advance as opposed to what it states in the tenancy contract of paying him on a monthly basis?

Thanks in advance,

Guest101

mag21 wrote: »

Hi,
My husband and I will be returning to the UK in the near future. We have found a property to let with a company called "openrent".
Since we won't have jobs when we get to the UK, we have offered to pay the 6 months tenancy period upfront to the landlord. The landlord has agreed, however openrent have a standard tenancy agreement which according to them can not be amended. The contract that they have issued us with states that the rent would be paid on a monthly basis. When we asked them about it, this was their reply:

"Unfortunately we aren’t currently able to support collecting any additional months’ rent either within the tenancy agreement or in collecting payment.

Landlords are welcome to sign additional paper agreements with tenants which go beyond the terms of the contract we provide, and this is the usual way of accommodating a requirement for the tenant to pay multiple months’ rent in advance. Payment of the additional months’ rent will need to be made directly to the landlord by the tenant, taking into account the amount the tenant has also paid to OpenRent for the first month’s rent and deposit".

As they are not willing to change the contract, can anybody suggest an appropriate agreement that we as tenants and the landlord can sign stating that we will be paying him the rent in advance as opposed to what it states in the tenancy contract of paying him on a monthly basis?

Thanks in advance,

In reality it makes no difference.

1: If the LL signed the tenancy agreement and you move in on monthly basis, pay monthly.

2: if you pay the landlord 6 months upfront and reference rent Oct 2015 - Apr 2016 (or whatever the dates are), you have fulfilled your contractual payments. There's no loss to the landlord in either scenario, so nothing for you to worry about

(assuming you've checked the LL is who he says he is)

G_M

Openrent is not a traditional Lettings agency. They do not do lettings management. They are a basic introductory service, bringing together lanlords and tenants, with a couple of additional services eg a standard contract, tenant credit searches etc

It is a 'one size fits all' service, run online, and that is how they keep their costs to a minimum and therefore charge much less (if at all) than lettings agencies.

So yes, their service involves supplying a standard tenancy agreement (no negotiation, take it or leave it) and collecting the 1st months rent. Thereafter they have no role and the LL manages the rental.

However if the LL is happy to accept you there is nothing to stop you and him agreeing an alternative contract under whatever terms you agree.

Is the landlord a member of the RLA or the NLA? They both have contracts that could if required be altered. It is easy to substitute
"Monthly rent of £X00, the first 6 months to be paid in advance" for

[STRIKE]"Monthly rent of £X00, payable monthly in advance"[/STRIKE]

mag21

G_M wrote: »

Openrent is not a traditional Lettings agency. They do not do lettings management. They are a basic introductory service, bringing together lanlords and tenants, with a couple of additional services eg a standard contract, tenant credit searches etc

It is a 'one size fits all' service, run online, and that is how they keep their costs to a minimum and therefore charge much less (if at all) than lettings agencies.

So yes, their service involves supplying a standard tenancy agreement (no negotiation, take it or leave it) and collecting the 1st months rent. Thereafter they have no role and the LL manages the rental.

However if the LL is happy to accept you there is nothing to stop you and him agreeing an alternative contract under whatever terms you agree.

Is the landlord a member of the RLA or the NLA? They both have contracts that could if required be altered. It is easy to substitute
"Monthly rent of £X00, the first 6 months to be paid in advance" for

[STRIKE]"Monthly rent of £X00, payable monthly in advance"[/STRIKE]

Thank you for your help.
Regarding an alternative contract- we would still need to sign openrent's standard contract where it states that the rent would be paid monthly in order to finalise the rental process. Would you know where I could find a legal contract that would reflect the exact circumstances of this rental agreement (6 months upfront), and would openrent be willing to add a clause regarding an alternative contract in their standard contract?
I am not sure whether the LL is registered with RLA/NLA- would that make it easier if he is?
Sorry for all the questions...
Thanks again,

DandelionPatrol

mag21 wrote: »

Thank you for your help.
Regarding an alternative contract- we would still need to sign openrent's standard contract where it states that the rent would be paid monthly in order to finalise the rental process. Would you know where I could find a legal contract that would reflect the exact circumstances of this rental agreement (6 months upfront), and would openrent be willing to add a clause regarding an alternative contract in their standard contract?
I am not sure whether the LL is registered with RLA/NLA- would that make it easier if he is?
Sorry for all the questions...
Thanks again,

You are overthinking this. The document you need is just a receipt, signed by the landlord, stating which months the payment is for under your agreement.

anselld

Definitely overthinking it. It is for the landlord to find a suitable contract to suit the circumstances, not the tenant's responsibility.

mag21

Thank you. We are just a bit worried as we are going to pay quite a lot of money in advance. Would an additional document to say that we have paid the rent in advance be enough (written by the LL)?
Thanks

Guest101

mag21 wrote: »

Thank you. We are just a bit worried as we are going to pay quite a lot of money in advance. Would an additional document to say that we have paid the rent in advance be enough (written by the LL)?
Thanks

A bank statement showing the payment will be enough.

Unless you're paying cash :eek::eek::eek:

mag21

Guest101 wrote: »

A bank statement showing the payment will be enough.

Unless you're paying cash :eek::eek::eek:

Thanks, do you mean a bank statement from us or the LL?

DandelionPatrol

mag21 wrote: »

Thank you. We are just a bit worried as we are going to pay quite a lot of money in advance. Would an additional document to say that we have paid the rent in advance be enough (written by the LL)?
Thanks

That is called a receipt.

Guest101

mag21 wrote: »

Thanks, do you mean a bank statement from us or the LL?

Your bank statement. That shows the payment, leaving your bank and going to their bank. (I know the statement doesnt actually show the account details, but the bank does have access to get this)