Pressured by letting agency to sign contract within 5hrs; Incorrect info; no time to seek advice

WarmSocks7

(England) Was emailed a while ago by Letting Agency, informing me that Private Landlord wanted to increase rent and sign me into a new contract. I said I'd stay on (because difficult to find rentals), however I didn't write that I would accept the increase. Heard nothing until a few days ago on rent day. I dutifully paid the rent (previous rate as no new contract had been issued), however half way through rent day I received a flurry of emails from letting agency, including new rental agreement which they asked me to sign by the end of that day - effectively within about 5 hours.

I have clicked on the link to view the contract, whereby I discover key information about tenancy dates is incorrect.

I have signed nothing and I have been trying to phone Citizen's Advice, but impossible to speak to anyone.

Does anyone know if I can try and negotiate at this point with the LL. I don't really want to sign a contract, tying me in, (yet I would pay the monthly increase).

I am angry at having had almost no time to read through everything properly or to seek advice, I'm angry that information is incorrect and how stressful this is.

Could I get kicked out if I don't sign within a timeframe? What can I do now? Thanks in advance.

_Penny_Dreadful

WarmSocks7 said:

(England) Was emailed a while ago by Letting Agency, informing me that Private Landlord wanted to increase rent and sign me into a new contract. I said I'd stay on (because difficult to find rentals), however I didn't write that I would accept the increase. Heard nothing until a few days ago on rent day. I dutifully paid the rent (previous rate as no new contract had been issued), however half way through rent day I received a flurry of emails from letting agency, including new rental agreement which they asked me to sign by the end of that day - effectively within about 5 hours.

I have clicked on the link to view the contract, whereby I discover key information about tenancy dates is incorrect.

I have signed nothing and I have been trying to phone Citizen's Advice, but impossible to speak to anyone.

Does anyone know if I can try and negotiate at this point with the LL. I don't really want to sign a contract, tying me in, (yet I would pay the monthly increase).

I am angry at having had almost no time to read through everything properly or to seek advice, I'm angry that information is incorrect and how stressful this is.

Could I get kicked out if I don't sign within a timeframe? What can I do now? Thanks in advance.

Don’t sign the new tenancy agreement, there’s no reason that you must. Once your fixed term ended you automatically started a periodic tenancy. If your landlord wanted rid of you they’d first need to serve valid notice but no right minded landlord would get rid of a perfectly good tenant just because they’d prefer a periodic tenancy. 

Albermarle

Sounds like the letting agency have messed up by forgetting to send you the new agreement.

Just message them back and say you need time to read through it, especially as their are inaccuracies in it,  as it was only sent at the last minute by them.

Do not be intimidated by them.

WarmSocks7

_Penny_Dreadful said:

WarmSocks7 said:

(England) Was emailed a while ago by Letting Agency, informing me that Private Landlord wanted to increase rent and sign me into a new contract. I said I'd stay on (because difficult to find rentals), however I didn't write that I would accept the increase. Heard nothing until a few days ago on rent day. I dutifully paid the rent (previous rate as no new contract had been issued), however half way through rent day I received a flurry of emails from letting agency, including new rental agreement which they asked me to sign by the end of that day - effectively within about 5 hours.

I have clicked on the link to view the contract, whereby I discover key information about tenancy dates is incorrect.

I have signed nothing and I have been trying to phone Citizen's Advice, but impossible to speak to anyone.

Does anyone know if I can try and negotiate at this point with the LL. I don't really want to sign a contract, tying me in, (yet I would pay the monthly increase).

I am angry at having had almost no time to read through everything properly or to seek advice, I'm angry that information is incorrect and how stressful this is.

Could I get kicked out if I don't sign within a timeframe? What can I do now? Thanks in advance.

Don’t sign the new tenancy agreement, there’s no reason that you must. Once your fixed term ended you automatically started a periodic tenancy. If your landlord wanted rid of you they’d first need to serve valid notice but no right minded landlord would get rid of a perfectly good tenant just because they’d prefer a periodic tenancy. 

Thank you for your replies! Yes I'm on a periodic tenancy. Did my email saying that I would like to stay on for 6 months infer any legal obligation on my part? I didn't say that I would sign a new contract.

Can I just not sign the contract at all? Could I try to renegotiate with the LL to remain on a periodic tenancy, yet accept to pay the higher rent? Or would some contract need to be signed? I don't really know what my rights are, or how sensible it is to push it.
Also, the longer I leave signing a 6mo contract, the longer i will have to pay that for if that makes sense.

_Penny_Dreadful

WarmSocks7 said:

_Penny_Dreadful said:

WarmSocks7 said:

(England) Was emailed a while ago by Letting Agency, informing me that Private Landlord wanted to increase rent and sign me into a new contract. I said I'd stay on (because difficult to find rentals), however I didn't write that I would accept the increase. Heard nothing until a few days ago on rent day. I dutifully paid the rent (previous rate as no new contract had been issued), however half way through rent day I received a flurry of emails from letting agency, including new rental agreement which they asked me to sign by the end of that day - effectively within about 5 hours.

I have clicked on the link to view the contract, whereby I discover key information about tenancy dates is incorrect.

I have signed nothing and I have been trying to phone Citizen's Advice, but impossible to speak to anyone.

Does anyone know if I can try and negotiate at this point with the LL. I don't really want to sign a contract, tying me in, (yet I would pay the monthly increase).

I am angry at having had almost no time to read through everything properly or to seek advice, I'm angry that information is incorrect and how stressful this is.

Could I get kicked out if I don't sign within a timeframe? What can I do now? Thanks in advance.

Don’t sign the new tenancy agreement, there’s no reason that you must. Once your fixed term ended you automatically started a periodic tenancy. If your landlord wanted rid of you they’d first need to serve valid notice but no right minded landlord would get rid of a perfectly good tenant just because they’d prefer a periodic tenancy. 

Thank you for your replies! Yes I'm on a periodic tenancy. Did my email saying that I would like to stay on for 6 months infer any legal obligation on my part? I didn't say that I would sign a new contract.

Can I just not sign the contract at all? Could I try to renegotiate with the LL to remain on a periodic tenancy, yet accept to pay the higher rent? Or would some contract need to be signed? I don't really know what my rights are, or how sensible it is to push it.
Also, the longer I leave signing a 6mo contract, the longer i will have to pay that for if that makes sense.

The periodic tenancy is automatic, your landlord can’t prevent it from happening so negotiation seems pointless. Your email saying you’d like to stay on doesn’t create a new fixed term contract. 

There’s nothing preventing you from paying the new rent. You don’t have to sign a new contract in order to accept a rent increase. 

There’s a sticky at the top of the board that explains in more detail things like how and when an AST can be ended and rent increases. 

saajan_12

WarmSocks7 said:

(England) Was emailed a while ago by Letting Agency, informing me that Private Landlord wanted to increase rent and sign me into a new contract. I said I'd stay on (because difficult to find rentals), however I didn't write that I would accept the increase. Heard nothing until a few days ago on rent day. I dutifully paid the rent (previous rate as no new contract had been issued), however half way through rent day I received a flurry of emails from letting agency, including new rental agreement which they asked me to sign by the end of that day - effectively within about 5 hours.

I have clicked on the link to view the contract, whereby I discover key information about tenancy dates is incorrect.

I have signed nothing and I have been trying to phone Citizen's Advice, but impossible to speak to anyone.

Does anyone know if I can try and negotiate at this point with the LL. I don't really want to sign a contract, tying me in, (yet I would pay the monthly increase).

I am angry at having had almost no time to read through everything properly or to seek advice, I'm angry that information is incorrect and how stressful this is.

Could I get kicked out if I don't sign within a timeframe? What can I do now? Thanks in advance.

Its not stressful if you don't have a time limit, which you don't. Take a breath and read it in your own time. 

If you don't agree to the new contract, then you remain on a periodic tenancy. If you abide by your obligations to look after the property and pay rent, then they can only evict via a S21 notice, whihc would take months and is illogical for them as it would mean a void. 

Worst case scenario: your email is deemed to be acceptance of the new terms, meaning you're tied in for 6 months at the higher rent. Please quote the emails back and forth exactly, but from what you've said this is very unlikely given there was a contract anticipated. However I only mention this to reassure you that nothing terrible will happen. 

kimwp

If you only want to stay on six months, I'd check with this board how to do that at your current rent.