Rent hike after we viewed, before we've even signed!

GreenWiz

A Lettings Agent gave us a viewing on a property. We rang after to say we'd take it. They said they now want £350 MORE pcm than the advertised price! Can they do that? Should they not have said that on the Right Move ad in the first place? Is that mis-selling? My wife paid for a train and took a long journey to go and view it based on the price the agent advertised it at. Interested in other's views and experiences. Is this legal? Could set a ridiculous precedent at the least surely!? Lettings Agents pulling new higher prices out of thin air once a prospective tenant viewed...

user1977

It's no more non-legal than you offering them less than they were asking for.

Martico

Very poor form, and equally poor business practice (to establish distrust from the start). But that's about it I'd say

GreenWiz

The point here is after a viewing of a property at an advertised price the agent has asked for £350 extra pcm - £4200pa - on top of what they originally advertised - a significant increase. To explain in a different way, if one saw a car advertised at a set price, took the time to contact, discuss, arranged to view, travel to view and of course pay the costs of time and money for that trip there and back, to have the seller then hike the price seems unreasonable, at the very least.
Using the hypothetical suggestion given above that the prospective buyer offers less, well that is more reasonable as this done on the strength of being after having seen the property first-hand so better able to make an informed valuation based on their opinion - exactly what the seller had the advantage of in the first place as they always have know the property first-hand already as physically viewed.
That makes the above comment nonsensical and irrelevant of course.
If the buyer makes an offer of less before viewing in person (with a then more qualified appraisal) that's a different matter. Either way we would not make an offer of change in price and not expect a landlord or their representing agent to do the same after a viewing as is the normal case in such transactions.

Mstty

Sadly until the tenancy is signed or a verbal acceptance in England at the price you were told there is no recourse.

user1977

GreenWiz said:

To explain in a different way, if one saw a car advertised at a set price, took the time to contact, discuss, arranged to view, travel to view and of course pay the costs of time and money for that trip there and back, to have the seller then hike the price seems unreasonable, at the very least.

But that's also the most it would be. It would be completely legal if it was a car as well.

CSI_Yorkshire

As we have to point out on many similar threads on this forum - "that's a bit of bad form", "I think that was mean", or "surely they can't do that" don't have any legal standing or come with any reason for compensation.

Murphybear

You’ll probably find it was the landlord that wanted the price hike, the agent is only acting under his instructions.  it does seem a massive amount though. Have you compared the prospective rent to other properties in the area?  

Ksw3

Sadly where I live renting is basically an unregulated auction. The estate agents go round asking every applicant to up their "offer". Highest wins. Morally reprehensible in my view. 

turnitround

Its such a minefield now trying to get a rental property. My nephew went through the process of getting the checks done etc then he was told another applicant had offered £200 more a month and he was asked to match it. He refused thinking it may be a bluff but sure enough the person who moved into the house was paying more.

Mstty

The rental.market is complete chaos I agree we could ask £1200 a month on average for a 2 bed property when last year they were £700-800.

Crazy......and they are being snapped up at that price.