Changed mind after paying deposit for a room

gaz141

Claude_Money wrote: »

Stupid question but am I definitely only liable for the year’s rent once I have signed the contract?

I was due to move in tomorrow (so my contract would have started from then) but I have asked the landlord if I can move in Thursday instead, so that I have more time to think things through.

You are only renting a room, not the whole flat. Unless things have changed since I was a lodger, you are under no obligation to pay for a whole year, and there is no law to back that up. As a lodger, you have no Tenancy Agreement so have no rights, but you can equally walk away whenever. Lodger's deposits do not get passed to anyone so Landlord is talking BS if you are told that. Apologise for messing the landlord around, but walk away.

Kynthia

gaz141 wrote: »

You are only renting a room, not the whole flat. Unless things have changed since I was a lodger, you are under no obligation to pay for a whole year, and there is no law to back that up. As a lodger, you have no Tenancy Agreement so have no rights, but you can equally walk away whenever. Lodger's deposits do not get passed to anyone so Landlord is talking BS if you are told that. Apologise for messing the landlord around, but walk away.

No - where does the OP say the landlord lives in the property. The OP will be a tenant if renting a room in a shared house with a non-resident landlord, subject to tenancy laws. Thry will only be a lodger if the landlord is resident.

[Deleted User]

If your reluctance to take the room is based on being unsure about the course.., are you pulling out all stops to make sure of your feelings about the course.., whatever the problem is? Sometimes we can over think things and talking to someone at the university about whatever the problem is could allay your fears. Its a big change to do something like this and quite natural to have doubts

martindow

deannatrois wrote: »

If your reluctance to take the room is based on being unsure about the course.., are you pulling out all stops to make sure of your feelings about the course.., whatever the problem is? Sometimes we can over think things and talking to someone at the university about whatever the problem is could allay your fears. Its a big change to do something like this and quite natural to have doubts

Agree with this. OP, you need to step back to see if you can identify the problem - leaving home, the course or university or the house? It then needs talking through with your parents and/or university to be clear what you want to do.

It's a major milestone in your life and you are not the first to have wobbles. I hope you work out what to do next.