help with tenancy agreement

[LostInPeckham]

hi!

I need some help with the legalites of renting please.

I have found a 2 bed in QR Peckham and was looking forward to moving in in a couple of weeks.

I'd agreed with the landlady the rent, deposit and length of stay and we'd got as far as the contract but stupidly hadn't signed it.

I've not yet paid her anything and she's now said she can't rent it to me. What is there I can do? if anything?

It's taken ages to find somewhere. Is this not a verbal agreement, and is it not binding? Or is it only when money has been paid and the paperwork signed.?

[Sally Eva]

well yes, a verbal agreement is binding but do you really want to insist on having a landlady who doesn't want you?

you surely aren't thinking of going to court? She can just deny it. Then it would obviously be her word against yours -- and you would be spending lots of money on court fees even if you didn't pay a lawyer.

[IlonaM]

The charity Shelter has a lot of info on their website (just make sure you're looking at English law section rather than Scottish!). They also have a helpline for advice via phone/online:

https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help

[red devil]

I know it's a pain but best to forget and find yourself another flat. A legal case could take ages and be costly, and if you won she would probably activate the break clause at first opportunity, e.g. after 6 months, and you'd be back to square one again...

[KidKruger]

landlady has probably found someone willing to pay more - or agreed higher rent with existing tenants, probably feels she can't tell you that so has flicked you off. sounds terrible though, what an uneccessary amount of stress !

[robbin]

Very annoying, but I suggest you put it behind you. An oral tenancy is possible, but if there's an argument that there was never an unequivocal meeting of minds and final agreement (which the original intention to reduce the agreement to writing suggests), or no consideration provided, then its not worth the aggro or expense. Count it as a lucky escape from the clutches of a potentially troublesome and untrustworthy landlord.

[JohnL]

rent gazumping

http://www.propertyindustryeye.com/high-street-lettings-agents-enabling-gazumping-in-the-rental-sector/

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3310784

[red devil]

That cuts both ways though, a tenant could just as easily agree to rent one property and then later decide to rent another one...

[nxjen]

As the OP hadn?t signed the agreement or paid a deposit, I?m wondering how long it was between the ?verbal agreement? and the landlady changing her mind. To secure a tenancy, these matters have to be attended to with all speed, otherwise it could give the impression of being an unreliable tenant.