Hello, I’m hoping someone can advise me please. We helped my daughter purchase a flat to live in after her first year of university. She had agreed that a friend would rent the second bedroom from her however when it came to actually ask her to sign a contract, the friend had a few issues with it (unfounded) and became a little difficult and the whole situation became very tense between them. The friend had assumed that she would be able to stay there for the full duration of her course (a further three years), but my daughter wanted a shorter contract to give them both flexibility (which I feel is sensible). My daughter subsequently got cold feet about the whole thing, and felt that she didn’t want to share with this friend after all (there were other difficulti personal issues with the friend that arose, separate from the contract issues).
The friend, who is an overseas student and was due to arrive back in the UK today, has now emailed to say that she feels it will not be possible for them to live together and is asking for several thousand pounds compensation to cover rearranged flights from her home country, the cost of hotels while she looks for alternative accommodation, and the difference in rent that she will have to pay (my daughter was offering her cheap rent).
Nothing has been signed and no payments have been made so I am assuming that the contract is not binding? She had sent a text message to my daughter to say that she accepted the contract but as I say, has not signed or paid the first month’s rent or deposit. I did have some sympathy with this girl until she started demanding compensation as I appreciate she is now in a difficult position of having to find alternative accommodation.
Does anyone know the legal position please? My daughter suffers quite badly with anxiety which is why I have taken over the negotiations with the friend.
no contract signed , no money paid . no chance with this chancer
I was concerned that as she had said in writing that she accepted the contract, that could stand up if she decided she wanted to go to court (I don’t think she would go this far but wanted to be sure of the legalities before I tell her to take a hike).
Does she have any proof or witness that a contract (verbal or otherwise) was ever offered by your daughter? Email, text message, Whatsapp etc? If no proof exists then not worth worrying about. No money exchanged hands.
However, if she ever sees your original message above, that might constitute proof that a contract was offered and agreed. You might want to reconsider the wording?
So the overseas girl said she would not come over and live? If she thinks there is a contract ,then she broke it. I would not communicate again with her and block her
Yes, a contract was sent by email and she sent a message to say that she agrees to it but couldn’t sign it until she was back in the UK.
This is what she is saying in a roundabout way - I have emailed back to ask her to clarify that is exactly what she means.
Your daughter now has written evidence that it was the friend who made the decision that she couldnt live there. Therefore no compensation is due to the friend.
This is what I thought, thank you for confirming.
I would suggest you daughter writes back to the friend asap accepting her decision in case she tries to change her mind.
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