Strange situation (housing related)

Ex-RoNiN

Ex-RoNiN

Ex-RoNiN

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Joined
18 Oct 2002
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12,354
About a month ago I found this really great place, according to the advert it was to be available from the 14th of May. Had a look and it was great. I put down the admin fees for the estate agency to take it off the market, I filled out the application forms and I handed in my notice to my current estate agency, dated 27th of May. I agreed to move in to the property I had viewed on the 25th of May.

Today I get a call from the estate agency that are renting out my future place. The situation is as follows. Say the property I want is Property A. The agency also has a Property B. The current tenant (who I will be replacing) wants to move to Property B. However, for work contractual reasons the tenant in Property B now has to delay his departure by a few days, at worst a week. Unless he vacates the property, the tenant in Property A can not move to Property B - thus, I can not move into the property that I wanted.

Where does this leave me? Can I ask my current estate agents to move my departure day by a week or two? Can I claim something from either of them? If I can't move my departure date from the current property, is the estate agency of my "new" place liable for costs with regards to alternative accommodation? Do I have any other options in this case? The new property is still advertised as available from the 15th of May...

Any help appreciated pls :(
 
I will not pretend I know the answer m8 but that does not sound right to me.

Whilst I understand the situation the other tenant is in it should be of little concern to you. You agreed a deal/contract and surely you have some rights.
 
I put down the admin fees for the estate agency to take it off the market, I filled out the application forms and I handed in my notice to my current estate agency, dated 27th of May. I agreed to move in to the property I had viewed on the 25th of May
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One question

Have you signed a lease saying your move in day is 25th May?

If so then tell the property/estate agents to get their act together as they are messing you about. The current tenant should be moving out WELL BEFORE you move in. Blimey they have to clean the place first before any other tenant moves in i would have thought.

(its not a private landlord is it?)
 
Surfer said:
One question

Have you signed a lease saying your move in day is 25th May?

***

(its not a private landlord is it?)
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1) Unfortunately not, they haven't even started the referencing process yet, as according to them references are valid for 1 month only. Only with positively passed references can I sign the lease. For now, the only signature is under the application form that goes to the referencing agency.

2) It is, but the estate agency market *and* manage the property.
 
Call them up and complain.

If they've given you a move in date then changed it after you've given notice with your old place then they should be obliged to help you. You've paid them an admin fee so they at least owe you is their ear.

I'm not saying it'll get you anywhere but see what they say before you speak to your current agency.
 
Surely the chap in property B is in the same position as you in as much as he has given a moving out date and unfortunately has to stick to it. The person in property A has given a moving out date I presume and has to stick to it as you are coming in on a set date...

Call up the new agency and complain.

My experiences with agencies almost always been bad ones. They're very quick to place the blame and make demands but extremely slow to help and keep up their end of things.
 
so you paid them money and your still not guaranteed the place? theres no signed contract yet!!how much have you paid them?

tbh - these estate agents sound like absolute tossers btw remember if this is what they are like when you are trying to move in imagine what they will be like when you have moved in!

im not sure what the legal position is.... theyve taken money from you so that they would no longer show anyone else the property (still doesnt mean you will get it does it?)

Heres what i would do. You had a verbal agreement when you paid them cash to take the property off the market that you could move in on 25th may. Now they are saying no they cant do that anymore. So you are entitled to your money back. Take your money and find a better landlord/estate agent and another property.
 
Well, a few phone calls later, and it seems like they won't take responsibility for this, they claim its not their fault, they say they are being mucked around by that guy, so not their fault.

Not willing to provide alternative accommodation for that reason either, but they do agree to return my admin fees if I want to pull out because of that.

Gonna work this from 2 ends now, 1) trying to find a new place, 2) trying to talk to current landlord/agency and try getting an extension of my notice (is this legal?)

Thanks for all the helpful replies.
 
I think your best option would be to phone your current landlord and speak to them really nicely and see what they say. Unfortunately you might be stuck between a rock and a hard place as no one in the housing market likes a chain like this.

Hope you get something sorted out.
 
It turns out the tenants in the property I want to move in to are fed up with that estate agency and have found a different place and will still move out on the previously agreed date, leaving the property free for me to move in.

Problem solved I guess, but I am still a bit unhappy about how it was handled. Never mind, new place here I come :D
 
Ex-RoNiN said:
It turns out the tenants in the property I want to move in to are fed up with that estate agency
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No alarm bells ringing then?

Did they say what it is they are fed up with? Might be worth asking so you can try and avoid similar experiences with the agency.
 
Mat said:
No alarm bells ringing then?

Did they say what it is they are fed up with? Might be worth asking so you can try and avoid similar experiences with the agency.
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I am guessing they were fed up about the fact that they couldn't move into the agency's other property, simple conjecture on my part. Don't know what the actual reason is (didn't speak to them) but moving out on the agreed date anyway and taking a different property speaks volumes to me.

Alarm bells yes, but then what can I do? Just shows I have to be absolutely careful in the future when it comes to renewal/moving on.
 
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