As the title says, New tenants asked to postpone move in date by two weeks, however, we are still going through references and haven’t issued nor sign the contract.
Are landlords obliged to change the move in date or is the original agreed move in date already legally binding?
Nothing is legally binding till you and tenant have agreed a contract (whether verbally or in writing).
You can’t hold them to a move in date, they can’t hold you to providing your property to move in to- because you haven’t agreed and signed a contract yet
Suggest you may want to get some LL training.
Good luck
if that’s the case, then you don’t have a move in date yet. Until those references come back clean and they have had a chance to see the contract (and you’ve been through 6 months of bank statements?) you don’t yet know if they’re suitable tenants. Once you have ascertained that, you can negotiate a move in date that suits both parties.
oh and I’m assuming you’ve met them, taken copies of their physical IDs or seen share code to verify right to rent and they’ve viewed the property…
Until signed, nothing is final. Moving day is by negotiation. Be fair and reasonable as you don’t want to fall out at this stage, unless you are going to reject them as tenants and move on.