About To Become Homeless

ceri

I don't know if anyone can help.

My step-daughter arranged to rent a house. Darlows Estate Agents said in a letter that they were accepted for the house and the final day is today 27th Feb, then they can claim the keys. Now, today they had a letter from Darlows saying the landlord has decided to withdraw claiming they are weak tenants - apparently because my daughter didn't give them a recent landlords letter until yesterday - but she didn't have it from the landlord until the day before.

On the basis of Darlows saying they can have the house - they arranged with the current landlord to be out of their current house by 3 March. The landlord has already got a new tenant to move in on 3 March.

So now, my step-daughter has got nowhere to live, as from 3 March.

She is going to be homeless with 3 children and another on the way

Is this legal? Can landlords treat people like this?

Trollfever

Local Authority, CAB and Shelter.

pinkshoes

What was the exact wording of the acceptance letter? Did it say subject to a reference from previous landlord, and give a date when this letter had to be received?

I would speak to the CAB, find out your rights (go down to their high street branch and take the letter with you - make copies too!!), then maybe the landlord will have to pay for you to stay in temporary accomodation until alternative accomodation can be found??

BenL

Has anything been signed?

I would have thought so if they were going to be able to get the keys today or was it "subject to reference checking"

SouthCoast

Time is not on your side.

Find a roof first then start sorting out the legal issues.

PasturesNew

When I signed with Darlows, I handed over my deposit for credit checking and they said the property was held for 1 month for me until the credit checks etc were done. If I'd failed the credit check or landlord's reference then I'd have been given my deposit back I think. Although it was all done verbally in the bloke's car right after the viewing and we were both in a rush.

Is there anything Darlows have that would suit?

ceri

Well it was subject to contract - but they told them on the LAST day via voicemail. They showed no sympathy whatsoever.

ceri

plus....................they have not given the reason why.

The trouble is the house was for sale at the same time.

They told us all *at different times -different people - different reasons for stopping the let. one was the guarantor was weak (even though they passed a credit check), another was the tenant was weak - they are lying through their teeth

pinkshoes

It's harsh on their behalf, but if a tenancy is subject to a contract/reference/credit check, then it would be a little foolish to hand in your notice on your current property until you had signed for another one...

Regardless of what excuse the EA is giving, I'm afraid they'll just have to look for somewhere else ASAP! An empty private rental requiring no credit check would be the quickest option! Try adverts in newsagent windows etc... At least they now have a reference they can take along!

G-G_4

Is there anyway they / you can search about for a vacant property up for letting? That was she could possibly move in within the week?

Good Luck x

ceri

we are looking today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!