Being on tenancy agreement when subletting?

orrockian

Hi,

My girlfriend and I moved into a flat with a couple before Christmas. We pay a fixed amount each month which covers all bills. The couple were already there and advertised the room as all inclusive. We pay rent to the couple, and they also hold our security deposit. We haven't signed any kind of agreement, but we're happy with that as the deposit is less than one month's rent.

I guess the situation is subletting, but the letting agent is aware we are living here and paying the couple rent. We pay rent on time and we're not going to do a runner.

I did references etc for the letting agency in December, but they phoned yesterday to say they forgot to charge me fees for the references (£30) and that the landlord wants my GF and I added to the current tenancy agreement. Also they need references from my girlfriend (another £30) and the charge for getting another tenancy agreement is £50 per person, so in total we need to pay £160.

I'm not overly happy about this as it's 3 months since we moved in, and I think the letting agency should have had their act together from the beginning.

I guess what I'm asking is:

1. Do we have to be added to the tenancy agreement? We're happy with the way things are, and frankly don't want to be tied in to this place for 6 months or longer.
2. If we do, how can the agency justify £50 each for myself and my girlfriend for another agreement when they're only drafting one more? Can we dispute the charge?

Thanks for any advice!

clutton_2

you have no legal rights if u r not on an agreement

DGJsaver

orrockian wrote: »

Hi,

My girlfriend and I moved into a flat with a couple before Christmas. We pay a fixed amount each month which covers all bills. The couple were already there and advertised the room as all inclusive. We pay rent to the couple, and they also hold our security deposit. We haven't signed any kind of agreement, but we're happy with that as the deposit is less than one month's rent.

I guess the situation is subletting, but the letting agent is aware we are living here and paying the couple rent. We pay rent on time and we're not going to do a runner.

I did references etc for the letting agency in December, but they phoned yesterday to say they forgot to charge me fees for the references (£30) and that the landlord wants my GF and I added to the current tenancy agreement. Also they need references from my girlfriend (another £30) and the charge for getting another tenancy agreement is £50 per person, so in total we need to pay £160.

I'm not overly happy about this as it's 3 months since we moved in, and I think the letting agency should have had their act together from the beginning.

I guess what I'm asking is:

1. Do we have to be added to the tenancy agreement? We're happy with the way things are, and frankly don't want to be tied in to this place for 6 months or longer.
2. If we do, how can the agency justify £50 each for myself and my girlfriend for another agreement when they're only drafting one more? Can we dispute the charge?

Thanks for any advice!

The ageny `forgot` ??

move , go somehwhere else , they sound useless and the less dealings you have with them the better

orrockian

clutton wrote: »

you have no legal rights if u r not on an agreement

We don't really mind that, since we don't plan on being there much more than another 6-7 months. Is the £50 per person fee for the tenancy agreement reasonable though? Do we have any right to refuse to sign it?

orrockian

DGJsaver wrote: »

The ageny `forgot` ??

move , go somehwhere else , they sound useless and the less dealings you have with them the better

The woman there is nice enough, but it is annoying that this has come up this late in the day.

It's not a major hassle and we're happy enough living here, but we'd like to keep things the way they are if possible.