Strange situation (housing related)

Ex-RoNiN · 25 Apr 2007 at 21:40

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

Ex-RoNiN · 25 Apr 2007 at 21:54

Surfer said:
One question

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

***

(its not a private landlord is it?)

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.

Ex-RoNiN · 26 Apr 2007 at 08:22

Does anybody else have any suggestions on what I could possibly do?

Ex-RoNiN · 26 Apr 2007 at 17:31

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.

Ex-RoNiN · 27 Apr 2007 at 11:25

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

Ex-RoNiN · 27 Apr 2007 at 11:34

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.

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.