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Can a Landlord backdate a tenancy agreement

surfer9
surfer9 Posts: 120 Forumite
edited 4 May 2016 at 12:14PM in House buying, renting & selling
Official MoneySavingExpert Insert:

Hi everyone, we now have a full Renting Tips guide you may find helpful.

Back to surfer9's original post...

----

Can a Landlord backdate a tenancy agreement by 2 months?

I was supposed to have a tenancy agreement a few months ago. Yesterday - I finally received it.

New contract is a 12 month term. Should it actually start from the day I sign it?

Comments

  • HappyMJ
    HappyMJ Posts: 21,115 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    surfer9 wrote: »
    Can a Landlord backdate a tenancy agreement by 2 months?

    I was supposed to have a tenancy agreement a few months ago. Yesterday - I finally received it.

    New contract is a 12 month term. Should it actually start from the day I sign it?

    You don't have to sign it if you don't want to. I gather you are already in the property so therefore you already have a tenancy agreement in place.
    :footie:
    :p Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) :p Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. :p
  • Guest101
    Guest101 Posts: 15,764 Forumite
    HappyMJ wrote: »
    You don't have to sign it if you don't want to. I gather you are already in the property so therefore you already have a tenancy agreement in place.

    THIS.


    100% this.
  • thesaint
    thesaint Posts: 4,324 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Do you mean that the 12 month term starts now, and you want it to start 2 months ago?
    Well life is harsh, hug me don't reject me.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I suspect OP means the reverse: the LL has dated it 2 months ago, probobly because the previous fixed term ended then.

    Yes, if you both agree to it having a start date 2 months ago, and sign it, it will be valid.

    Of course, you don't have to agree. You could

    a) ask for a start date with todays date, for another 12 months
    b) ask for a start date with todays date, for 10 months (bringing it back in line with the original dates)
    c) ask for a start date with todays date, for any other length you want (eg 6 months or 2 years)
    d) decline to sign and continue as at present with a 'periodic' (month by month) tenancy
  • Mahsroh
    Mahsroh Posts: 769 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I've done it retrospectively before when it hasn't been signed by both parties by the start of the tenancy (renewal).

    As previously stated, you're in the property so tenancy already in place. If you're happy to sign the 12 months fixed term despite the fact that 2 months has already passed I don't think there is a problem with this.
  • surfer9
    surfer9 Posts: 120 Forumite
    Cheers.

    Was more curious than anything.

    It isn't really an issue. Just wondered if there was any regulations/laws in place that didn't allow it to be backdated by several months.
  • Former_MSE_Andrea
    Former_MSE_Andrea Posts: 9,611 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker I've helped Parliament Rampant Recycler
    Hi, in case you're still unsure our Renting Tips guide might help. We've added it to the top post too to help anyone coming through from a search.

    Andrea :)
    Could you do with a Money Makeover?


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