Sketchy Student Letting

cocolena

Hi,
Me and my 2 friends are due to move into a 4 bedroom private student house in September however we are seriously worried. 
We signed our tenancy agreement 4 days ago which stats the house is ours till 30.06.2021. 
However, today I got a call from the letting agent on behalf of the landlord to say they got the agreement wrong and the landlord wants us to move out on 20.05.2021 because he has booked builders to come into the house to covert it to a 6 bed! 
At no point in the past month from when we showed interest in the house have we been told that the landlord wanted to end the tenancy early. 
But the letting agent claimed it was their mistake and they knew about the building work and forgot to put it on the agreement. 
Naturally, we felt like this was premeditated and they waited till we signed the agreement and paid the £400 deposit each to tell us that as no students would agree to that tenancy as it's right in the middle of exams that we would have to move out! 
Had we known that was the plan prior to signing the agreement there is no way we would have gone ahead with it. 
So when they asked us to sign a new contract we asked our parents for advise, who were of course fuming because they felt we were being mistreated. 
When our parents called the letting agent they tried to say they never said that is happening and it was just a 'suggestion' and that the building work is happening in July. 
We really don't feel comfortable with them telling our parents that because they told us it was already booked for May. 
Even without the new agreement, we can't help but be paranoid that the landlord could give us two months notice and still kick us out in May. 
We are still in the cooling off period and don't know whether to back out, however their website says we might not get all our deposit back if we do. 
We really don't know what to do. 
Someone please help us!

531063

Have you got a hard copy of TA signed by LL.

cocolena

531063 said:

Have you got a hard copy of TA signed by LL.

Yeah, we have the digitally signed copy which was signed by us and the letting agent on behalf of the LL

greatcrested

So you have a binding contract that ends on 30/6/21. This seems to be what you want. So there is no problem.

Is there a 'Break Clause' in the contract? That is the only way (other than rent arrears etc) that you could be evicted ealier.

For more, read

Post 4: Ending/renewing an AST: what happens when a fixed term ends? How can a LL or tenant end a tenancy? What is a periodic tenancy?

531063

As above the ball is mostly in your court.

ThePants999

Just don't agree to it. All there is to it.

rik111

Even if he gives you 2 months notice, just don’t move out. He will have to take you to court to get you out and you will be long gone before any hearing thus it will never get near a court. Just make sure you pay the rent until the day you move and you will owe nothing. Absolutely refuse to sign the new agreement and if they get heavy ask them how much I they are offering to buy you out of the agreement for the inconvenience of having to find somewhere else. They signed a legally binding contract with you, that’s it, that can not now go back on that.

dimbo61

Landlord will have to get the work done between July 2021 and September 2021.
You have a contract so tell the Lettings Agents thanks but No thanks 

dimbo61

Hi, you and 2 friends so 3 tenants altogether in a 4 bed house !
Are you going to get another student tenant to join you ?
Or is that up to the landlord ?
Make sure you take lots and lots of photos when you move in.
Make sure the Landlord has protected the deposit within 30 days by checking all the deposit schemes. Say nothing to the LL if they have not done this within the 30 days.
Check the property has a valid in date Gas Safe Certificate.
Check the EPC on the EPC register !
If the landlord provides a fridge freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, microwave it should have a PAT sticker on the item ( check )
The LL should do a photo/video inventory and provide you with a printed copy for all the tenants to sign.
If you notice any damage or broken furniture when you move in email the lettings agents with photos of the problems.

silvercar

Dear letting agent,
As you no doubt are aware we have an AST that ends on 30.6.21. As students we will not be in a position to move during exam season and therefore will not be agreeing to terminate the tenancy earlier. I suggest you arrange with the landlord for any building work to commence after the end of the tenancy.
Students