Flat rental - Move in day

lloydchristmas

As a tenant, are there any rights regarding availability of keys? 

I was thinking as I have paid to move in that day, I should have the keys available to me fairly early?  The original doc said keys will be available from midday onwards.  It doesn't specify a time limit.

If the keys were not available until say 3pm that day, do I just have to accept that?

The reason for the delay is they have only managed to book a cleaner for the same day I am moving in, so I have to wait.

Retired_Mortgage_Adviser

I don't know about the law but I have refunded a day's rent to my tenants when the LA only handed them the keys late afternoon of move-in day and the tenants complained. That was only fair.

For self managed properties I give tenants the choice of move-in time and occasionally have even given them the keys the previous evening if I was busy the next day.

jimbo2108

Midday is generally the norm, thats whats happened with renting previous houses and buying my house. It gives time for the EA to check everything, however it should be available earlier as the previous tenant should have given the keys the day before, or on the day if there is a crossover?

notrouble

If he tenancy specifies midday, then the keys should be available at midday. I don't see why the tenant can't get the keys and start moving in while the cleaners are finishing off some rooms. Cleaners may be unhappy, but that's life.

If the tenancy is silent, then midday is assumed.

lloydchristmas

notrouble said:

 I don't see why the tenant can't get the keys and start moving in while the cleaners are finishing off some rooms. Cleaners may be unhappy, but that's life.

The reason given is after the cleaning is complete, letting agent has to then do the inventory, and they don't hand over keys until the inventory is complete.

It's a bit annoying as they've known my move in date for around a month so I'm not sure why the cleaning couldn't have been booked in earlier.  I know they had to wait for the previous tenant to move out but this should have been taken into consideration.  By that I mean, if the schedule they set themselves was too tight, they should have known this and pushed out the property availability date (start of contract date) by a day or two.

Marvel1

notrouble said:

If he tenancy specifies midday, then the keys should be available at midday. I don't see why the tenant can't get the keys and start moving in while the cleaners are finishing off some rooms. Cleaners may be unhappy, but that's life.

If the tenancy is silent, then midday is assumed.

In this case it does not, it states "from" - anytime after midday. 

notrouble

Marvel1 said:

notrouble said:

If he tenancy specifies midday, then the keys should be available at midday. I don't see why the tenant can't get the keys and start moving in while the cleaners are finishing off some rooms. Cleaners may be unhappy, but that's life.

If the tenancy is silent, then midday is assumed.

In this case it does not, it states "from" - anytime after midday. 

I'm pretty sure if it went to court a judge would say the tenancy starts at midday, and hence the tenant could collect the keys/move in at any time that is convenient to them after that.

lloydchristmas

It sounds like I'm just gonna have to suck it up.  I asked for 1 day discount on the rent and they said no, I think without even asking the landlord.

notrouble

Up to you whether to make it an issue. If you do,put your claim in writing, addressed to the landlord, at the address provided 'for serving notices' and send a copy to the agent. Make clear why you are claiming a day's rent.

But to be honest, for the sake of a day's rent, do you want to kick off your new tenancy with a dispute......?