Is this normal for a rental property?

[onebeauplace]

I don't know if this is normal or not because it's been many years since we last rented - would value some opinions. We are moving out of our home which we own into rented accommodation on 19th August. We've paid the holding deposit (which gets deducted off the main deposit) and passed our reference checks etc. I had assumed we would sign the contract and pay the deposit at this point but the letting agent (who is reputable, I have checked!) is saying that they don't do any contract signing or paying of deposits until 3 days before the tenancy start date?

So now I feel worried it could all fall through in between and we'll have nowhere to live. Is this normal for rentals now? I'm sure when we last rented in 2010 we signed the contract and paid the deposit pretty much as soon as our references etc had been checked.

I think it’s normal. You’ve paid the holding deposit and that’s all you pay
We are doing the same as you. We get the keys on Friday and have to pay by card as we get them.

Normal I'm afraid, and yes, Landlord (or yourself) can pull out right up to the last minute for any reason. Ridiculous system.

Ugh how frustrating. I guess I just have to hope it doesn't happen. I can't shake the absolute terror of turning up on 19 August with a lorry full of all our stuff and the landlord saying actually no thanks. We complete that day so have absolutely no leeway whatsoever and nowhere else to stay.

I've been there, well almost. Landlord was trying to hold the letting agent to ransom by not releasing the keys on our moving day till the agency agreed to pay for the gardening work the landlord insisted needed doing after the previous tenant left. We finally moved in 24 hours late.

I'm told it's rare though, so hopefully your move will go more smoothly!