Paying for property without keys

Guest101

greensalad wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys.

We're not going to be able to collect the keys tonight anyway as their office will be closing before we can get there, but I will call tomorrow to let them know I'm sending a letter to demand keys.

Maybe we should just get a locksmith round if they don't hand them over.

My preference would still be that we pay rent from the day we gain access. It doesn't seem fair to pay rent on somewhere you can't get into. Maybe I should put forward to them that the tenancy agreement must change, but does the contract-signing then lose it's legitimacy if I contend the start date?

You can do that, but if you want the locksmith paying for you need to give them reasonable opportunity to release keys.


and really the agent is irrelevant. your contract is with the LL.


If you've paid rent and deposit then has the deposit been protected?

greensalad

We haven't received any deposit protection docs yet. I would assume so, as they are a major letting agent, but then I never can trust a letting agent. It is written in our contract that it will be protected.

It takes a few days for the paperwork to arrive from DPS or similar, doesn't it?

We're currently just waiting for partner's HR reference to come back but it's lost somewhere in his company's HR where we're unable to chase it. Fingers crossed that is the last bit of info they need and they'll then allow us the keys so we can actually access.

Guest101

It's too late for references now.

HappyMJ

I would just offer to pay the additional 2 months rent in advance that they are worried about and repay your grandparents from your income.

You're entitled to the keys once you've paid and signed the tenancy agreement.

LL has 30 days to protect the deposit at the beginning of the tenancy so you won't have paperwork for that yet.

Pixie5740

if the landlord, or an agent acting on his behalf, hasn't signed the TA yet then I'm not sure of the validity of the contract. Easiest way to ensure you have a contract is to pay the rent.

Don't go escalating things by getting a locksmith. You still have somewhere to live and whilst the letting agency appear to be disorganised pick your battles.

greensalad

Yes, that's definitely what we're planning on doing. We're nowhere near having to do any locksmith stuff. It's just nice to know where we stand. At present all we can really do is go along with the landlord's requirements.

And we can't get any more money for more rent payments. Our bank accounts are dry now. We spend £4,100 on the rent and deposit etc and we don't have a penny leftover!

Gigervamp

As the OP has already paid the rent, what happens if the partner's reference comes back as declined?

And as they have already paid the rent, shouldn't they have the keys now?

greensalad

Gigervamp wrote: »

As the OP has already paid the rent, what happens if the partner's reference comes back as declined?

And as they have already paid the rent, shouldn't they have the keys now?

This is exactly what I was so confused about. I've been referenced for properties before and it was a case of applying, passing the reference and THEN putting down fees etc.

The whole time we've been trying to get referenced they've had our cash and just keep telling us the property ours to pay rent on but nobody will explain to us why we're liable when we don't even know if we'll pass referencing. This is why I was so confused thinking we had the property secured when we were booked in for check-in, as I assumed we'd passed referencing. It seemed sensible to me that you wouldn't book someone in for the property check-in until you knew if they could live there.

It just seems so backwards. If his referencing is denied I don't want to be charged a few days rent for a property we never were allowed to set foot in.

Guest101

The property is yours.

However you have a contract, the LL has contractually agreed to rent the property to you.

The only thing you don't have, I think, is a tenancy- as you've not taken possession of the property.