(I don’t know which section to place this landlords or tenants discussion)
Hi guys about the flat above.
Please advise.
So he wouldn’t let me place a holding deposit on openrent - he said I had to pay a fee.
I said I was a smoker and he said I couldn’t have the flat .
I said ok give me the deposit back he said No and I had to take it because he didn’t want the stress of re-listing the flat.
Also I’m not going to be able to afford the flat due to self employed issues.
A friend of his has a key to the flat and I’m not happy about that .
He insisted his friend had the key .
Is this normal because I never experienced this before someone having a key to my place.
I gave him more money and signed the tenancy last night under duress because he said other people had been interested in it .
I felt uncomfortable and pressured plus uneasy.
I don’t want this flat anymore .
Does all that sound Right?
Hi Josef, this sounds like a complex situation, where the details will make all the difference. I’d recommend you email https://www.openrent.co.uk/faq#i-have-more-questions from your OpenRent-registered email address with as much detail as possible so that our team can look into this for you.
Sam
Thank you so much I will.
I can’t be helped because Arjun the landlord didn’t use your system 
Yes Josef, if you don’t use OpenRent to rent the property, but proceed off-platform, then we can’t protect you or help when things go wrong, sadly.
You will be able to get advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice.
Sam
None of this sounds right. See citizen’s advice. If you have nagging doubts it’s best in my experience not to do it. He cannot charge a fee anymore and no one other than the landlord and the landlords agent should have a key. They can only enter on mutually appropriate dates agreed with you unless it’s an emergency and must always give a minimum of 24 hours notice.
Thanks guys for replying =)