AIBU to think someone is taking the piss here?

10 replies

inabizzlefam · 09/12/2016 21:31

I looked round a house to rent, liked it and asked the letting agent about the For Sale by auction sign outside. He assured me that the landlord was prepared to pull out of the auction and wanted a long let (I stipulated long term) if I went ahead with the rental.
I paid £240.00 to "hold" the property and asked that the for sale sign be taken down.
That was 2 weeks ago. The sign is still up so asked my brother to pop in and pretend to be a potential buyer wanting a house in this particular town. The same letting agent told him the same house was going to auction next monday, the tenant (me) had just moved in (not yet) and if my brother purchased the house he would only have to give me 6 months notice to boot me out.
I feel so cheated. I was so happy to find this place, good rental price, perfect for DCs schools and a garden. I now feel like I will move in in a couple of weeks expecting to be there at least a couple of years, only to find I will have 6 months tops.
Should I just cut my losses and forget the £240 I have already lost or forge ahead in the hope that the new buyer will also want a long term tenant?

OP posts:

HarryPottersMagicWand · 09/12/2016 21:36

I'd contact the agent and tell him ou know its going to auction and he is advising buyers they can boot you out in 6 months. Tell him you want your money back as he has let it to you under false pretences.

Original poster

inabizzlefam · 09/12/2016 21:47

My problem is is that I signed a receipt for the £240 that stated no refund would be payable if I (the tenant) pulled out.

OP posts:

JellyBelli · 09/12/2016 21:50

But he has broken the contract. Contact Citizens Advice and take it to Trading Standards.

Patriciathestripper1 · 09/12/2016 21:51

You haven't pulled out. He lied to you in order to secure you as a tenant.

RebootYourEngine · 09/12/2016 21:52

I would argue this. He took your money under false pretences, i am no laywer but i would say that it could invalidate whatever you signed.

Original poster

inabizzlefam · 09/12/2016 22:01

But I only have the letting agents word that the house would be removed from the auction sale and that it would be a long term let, nothing in writing.

OP posts:

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 09/12/2016 22:24

But you wouldn't be interested in it if it wasn't a long term let? You wouldn't be getting upset about a short term lease if that had been your intention as well as the agent's.

GloGirl · 09/12/2016 22:28

I'm not sure about whether you should pull out or not. If it's likely to be kept as a rental property, which it is if it goes to auction, it's probable the new owners will want to keep you on.

Original poster

inabizzlefam · 09/12/2016 22:43

Yes they "might" want to keep me on, but it's the uncertainty that bothers me. I have 3 DCs who don't want to have to keep moving.
I just feel that this agent was very misleading. I have seen other properties in the same area where the letting agent makes it very clear that the let period is short, and I am fine with that. But I do feel very misled on this particular house.

OP posts:

baconandeggies · 09/12/2016 23:12

A long term let is usually considered a 12 month tenancy with a break clause at 6 months. So the agent can technically get you signed up to a 'long term let' and at 4 months you can receive 2 months notice to leave.

Crap tho. You could call his bluff by asking for a minimum fixed term of 12 or 24 months with no break clause.

Flip