Hello everyone, I have a question regarding renting in England I’m hoping to get clarified.
I will be relocating to England for work. I am expecting to start in another 1.5 months. While looking for houses to rent, I have stated that I would prefer to move late June or early July.
After a viewing, a landlord proceeded with me and I paid a holding deposit (1 weeks rent) for the same. They have since reached out asking me to move much sooner- in another 1-2 weeks. This will be hard as my current tenancy hasn’t ended and I am relocating from very far.
To hold the property for longer, they have requested a non-refundable holding fee worth another 2 weeks’ rent. I have asked if this could be put in writing and sent over but they said this will be detailed in the final agreement/contract.
Is this legal? Should I proceed with the rental or just try and find something else? I have read about some laws around renting and deposits but am still quite confused.
It’s a one week holding fee and it should all be signed off within 14 days
It may be used towards your deposit or rent and should be documented as such
Anything else is illegal unless it was called the actual deposit or rent
If you withdraw or are not transparent regarding references or credit check then they can refuse to let to you and keep the holding fee
My credit check was fine and my employer is yet to get back with a reference. There should not be any issues on that end (I hope).
The additional fee being requested is to ‘hold’ the property for longer. This, they’ve said, will be included in the final agreement. But no word on whether it will put towards the tenancy deposit. It is non-refundable.
I do not wish to withdraw as I do like the property and am keen to rent. I was just worried that they have asked me to pay an extra fee or start the tenancy earlier (which is not possible).
They have also not yet told me they cannot proceed with me as I can’t move in when they would like and return my holding deposit. I believe the 14 days ends on Tuesday.
The viewing was in person and afterwards I was asked to complete the application on OpenRent by paying the holding deposit.
Apparently the landlord said yes to me because he thought I could move in late May. But as I said I couldn’t (was on my application too), I have been asked to start the tenancy on June 7th or pay another holding deposit/fee worth 2 weeks’ rent. I have not proceeded with that but they’ve started the referencing process through OpenRent.
I think that your choice looks to be to start tenancy earlier than you want and pay rent from earlier date OR withdraw.
Landlord will lose several weeks rent if kept for you, so seems to have offered you a compromise, albeit clumsily set out, which costs both sides a few weeks rent amount.
You can start tenancy early but do not need to move in on that date. Once contract agreed its your choice. Just like you can move out of current place some days before the end date of contract.