New agent for flat we already live in - asking to sign new 6 month agreement?

theonematt

Hi all,

I posted in April about our tenancy agent changing as the landlord took the flat back from an LPA receiver and has now signed us up with a new agent. Unfortunately months later we're still not sorted.

I need some advice on the below, hoping someone here can help us.

- The new agent has asked for us to be signed onto their tenancy agreement and insists on a 6 month term - we fulfilled our term with the old agent in 2015 and are now rolling; are we required by law to sign a new agreement as our old agreement was with the old agent? She tells us 6 months is all they can do (I assume it would then be rolling).

- Our deposit is still secure, but with the old agent as they won't release it until they have details from the new agent regarding where they will be securing it. This has been ongoing months. If I do have to sign a new agreement - can I legally wait until the deposit is resecured?

Many thanks in advance!

mrginge

theonematt wrote: »

are we required by law to sign a new agreement ...

No you aren’t

theartfullodger

Do nothing. No requirement to sign new agreement.


NB Silly landlord/agent: If they really wanted you to sign they would have offered a lower rent: Most tenants then gladly sign....

G_M

All entirely up to you.


You have a valid contract with the landlord. The agent works for the landlord. If you want different terms (eg rent, length, sub-letting, whatever) then read the contract being offered and sign it if you like it.

If you don't, then don't. Continue on your periodic.

theonematt

Thanks all, all really helpful advice. I have a feeling the agent will try to pull the wool over our eyes if we say we won't, and claim we have to. Can anyone link to an official source which states we don't have to sign a new one? We so far can't find anything online or on the .gov website.

Thanks.

EasyAs123

You will almost never find official sources saying what you don't have to do.

If the agent insists you do have to, ask them to provide the official source confirming their position. They're the one's making the assertion after all.

Facts are that you currently have a contract with the landlord.

Your legal contract is always with the landlord, not the agency who are appointed by the landlord to act for the landlord on a day to day basis.

A new contract via the new agency will likely allow them to charge the landlord a signing fee and tie you to their standard terms so it will be easier for them to administrate.

As already stated, unless the contract is in some way better than your current contract - they ask you to sign and you can say 'no'

The only thing they could then do would be to start eviction proceedings... which, given I assume you have been a 'good tenant' to date, would be unlikely to be approved by the landlord.

G_M

theonematt wrote: »

.......Can anyone link to an official source which states we don't have to sign a new one? ........

Housing Act 1988 Section 5 (2)