Estate Agent Problem

crescend0

Hiya!

I have a problem; basically a week or two ago I put a reserve down on a flat and asked if it’d be ok if I only moved in the very end of June as I still have time left at the tenancy I’m and it’d be a waste of money if I moved in before then. The estate agent let us believe that would be ok and it’d just be a matter of filling in a few forms etc then waiting until the end of June to collect the keys and move in.

All the forms and papers they needed have been completed and sent in, but I’ve just had a call off them telling me everything is fine with forms etc, but the client will only allow me to move in the 13th of June at latest. If I hadn’t already paid £50 reserve fee I would probably walk away as if I don’t move in it’s £130 wasted to me (not to mention £130 of my flatmate’s money). I also need time to start saving money for when I move in as I'm skint. Every penny counts!

My question is, do you think the client is just trying it on? The flat had recently been reduced from £550 to £525 a month, leading us to believe it’s probably been on the market for a while. However it’s also quite a nice flat. If any of you have any advice on my next step (she asked if I’d get back to her today), then it’d be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance for any replies

[FONT=&quot]Luke[/FONT]

Muppit_2

It sounds like they just want you in sooner because its £100+ a week loss to them if its unoccupied. It depends how bothered you are about the flat or the money. Its nice having some overlap between changing properties because you can move gradually and get the new place set up how you want it. But it sounds like your concerned about the money. Maybe ask to pay half price for the time you wont be in the flat to share the expense?

tbs624

So there are 2 of you moving into this new flat? You have paid a £50 “reserve fee” - is this between you, or have you paid £50 each?

Did you get a a receipt, and if so what is the wording of that receipt?

Saying that the LA “let us believe” that the end of June would be ok is a bit woolly - did you specifically agree with them that your taking on the tenancy was dependent on that date being acceptable? If you have nothing in writing you can still try withdrawing, and writing to the LA to request the return of your fee on the grounds that the date was the deciding factor and that they misrepresented an approval of that date.

In the end it’s down to how much you want the flat, and how much the LL needs you as tenants - you have to bear in mind that the LL may need to make every penny count too. You could always try saying you’d consider meeting them halfway and going for the third week in June.

For future reference, before handing over any money or signing up for anything, always agree the initial terms in writing.

crescend0

Ok thanks people. Yeah she told us we could move in end of june, but nothing was written down. Been in today and hopefully got it sorted, agreed to move in a bit earlier

Cheers