Wrong starting date on my rental contract

Yuxin

I have an urgent question on my renting issues.

Last Saturday I view a property and I decided to take it from the agent. Before I signed the contract, the agency and me agreed that the move-in date will be 5th of July. Then I gave them the admin fee and booking fee - 400 pounds in total, and signed the contract.

Today they suddenly called me saying that the starting date on the signed contract was wrong - it was 5th of June (which I didn't notice), and I need to sign a new one. They then sent me a new contract with the starting date of 25th of June - the day I viewed the room. Obviously they changed the date as they want, and threatened me that if I don't sign the new contract I will not get the 400 pounds refunded.

I fell very disappointed on this agent because they were lying to me and now I have no choice - either to loss the admin/booking fee or to pay one more week's rent.

What shall I do with that? Is it possible that I can get some money back?

hazyjo

Take it higher. They should have a complaints procedure. Do you have proof in writing? They have put the wrong date twice. I would be checking the rest of the contract very carefully.


Alternatively, I would just cross it out and write the correct date.


No, I would not be paying for the week I was not there. Don't let them bully or intimidate you. Of course they are in the wrong.


Jx

pmlindyloo

You say 'the day you viewed you viewed the room'. Can you expand on that please.

Is this a room in a shared house? A room in the landlord's house where he/she lives? Something else?

Answers may be different once we get this information.

Yuxin

pmlindyloo wrote: »

You say 'the day you viewed you viewed the room'. Can you expand on that please.

Is this a room in a shared house? A room in the landlord's house where he/she lives? Something else?

Answers may be different once we get this information.

Yes, it's a double room in a flat. The agent already rent out the other two bedrooms.

Yuxin

hazyjo wrote: »

Take it higher. They should have a complaints procedure. Do you have proof in writing? They have put the wrong date twice. I would be checking the rest of the contract very carefully.


Alternatively, I would just cross it out and write the correct date.


No, I would not be paying for the week I was not there. Don't let them bully or intimidate you. Of course they are in the wrong.


Jx

I don't have a proof in writing. I asked them when I viewed the room and they promised me. To be honest, I don't want to sign the new contract, who knows what will happen next.

G_M

Cross out the date (25th June) and hand write in the date you agreed (5th July). Initial the change.

Photocopy the contract twice. Keep your original ad send the 2 copies back to them with a covering letter asking them to initial the changed date and return to you.

When you make your 1st rent payment, send a letter making clear the rent of £X covers the period 5th July to 4th August.