What are my rights? Moving house

[heartburn888]

So due to move into a new house at the end of August (31st) and I have had a call from the estate agent today to say that the landlord has decided to sell so can only offer me a 6 month contract and not a 12 as agreed.

I have signed a tenancy agreement and paid the holding and security deposit for this. Can the landlord do this legally, with 2 weeks to go before moving in? I have given notice on my currently property and was just waiting for the date to arrive to move, I’ve changed my bills over to this new property (water, energy,sky,council tax, tv lisence) as I like to have things in order in good time and now it’s just a waste of time. I have tried CAB but she was unable to advise and stated it would be unlikely I would receive the full monies I have paid back but the estate agent have said I will get it in full.

Aibu to make a complaint about the estate agents? They have provided terrible service up to press I.e hardly ever answering the phone, none response to emails, I asked them for measurements of the rooms as I wanted to order myself a new bed and a sofa - no response so I had to go to the house myself and get the measurements. It makes me think they have known for a while about this but sat on the information for whatever reason. I do find it unlikely that the landlord has just rolled out of bed this morning and decided to sell up. He know the previous tenants were leaving so why bother putting it up for rent again because this has caused me massive problems as I’m due to be out on the 31st and the current landlord has another tenant moving in shortly after.

What can I do? I’ve applied for another house but won’t be able to view until next Thursday as someone is currently occupying the house. Aibu to ask for compensation from the estate agents ?

What should I do?

It’s not even two weeks it’s a week tomorrow

What does your contract say?

The tenancy agreements I’ve had before say “12 month contract with a 6 month break clause on either side”.

If yours says this then not much you can do, he’s basically telling you in advance he’s exercising his break clause

I have looked through it best I can but it’s all legal jargon.

I’m sorry but you shouldn’t sign contracts if you have no idea what the content in them actually means

Can you take a pic of the contact for someone helpful to look at?

That's shitty of him. So is the sale board going up now or after the 6months is up. I worked in Lettings: He does realise he needs to give you at least 24hrs notice for people to view and you can refuse if it's not convenient? I've known tenants refuse all viewings & string it out for months. If it's all signed & there is the standard break clause there's not much you can do.

The documents I have have draft written over the top but I’ve never been given anything further. I think it is tenancy agreement as it says it on the front.

I have a bed coming next week with no where for it to be delivered now. So bloody annoyed. A flaming week before! How can he sleep at night.

Don’t think it’s worth moving in for 6 months and then uprooting everything to do the same 6 months later. I’m starting to think has the agency given the house to two people or if there’s more to it. I feel like asking for the landlords number to find out what has gone on as I think there’s more than what meets the eye, but I understand they are under no obligation to give me this - not sure if they are able to legally either

If you do move in whilst looking for somewhere else make sure you say no thank you to all viewings. There is absolutely NOTHING the landlord can do about it. He knew he was selling up and wanted to keep the money coming in until it sells even though moving house is very expensive for tenants. If it's an estate agents I'll be surprised if you haven't paid fees too right?

Don't you have to move to this house anyway because you've signed the lease and paid the deposit? Your bed will be delivered to your new address.

The whole private rental market seems like the bloody wild west to me. Almost every day I seem to hear of someone being ripped off or badly treated by either a landlord or agent.

Sorry this has happened to you, OP, but until there is more regulation, these fuckers will get away with it.

You need to have a really good read of your contract to k ow your rights.
Tbh I'd probably just move as it's gone be hard to get somewhere in the little time you have but I'd definitely refuse all viewings.
If the landlord has this little respect for you then why make things easy?

The term of the lease should be very clear and usually towards the top of the lease agreement. Does it say AST or Assured Shorthold Tenancy on it? Can you post a picture so that people can advise you?

EXACTLY what Lakie said. That fuckers knew exactly what they were doing! They wanted the money from you. The landlord, similarly, wants to keep the rent coming in and the place occupied whilst he puts it on the market and for you to facilitate viewings. Think trying to get money from them, however, will be like getting blood out of a stone.

This is the front. Flaming draft tenancy agreement. Kicking myself

Termination of tenancy - I’ll just post the areas I think will be relevant or sound relevant otherwise it will be page spam

Another 3

Personally I would ask for any money back I have exchanged with them in regards to the new property and use the money for a deposit on a new place you are able to secure your tenancy for longer.

Too much changes for 6 months. And I feel te landlord knew what he was doing but was fuelled by money - so again I wouldn’t move.

Imagine you have problems whilst living there (ex; the boiler broke down) and the landlord doesn’t sort them because he feels your only there for 6 months anyway - and his selling on so whatever happens isn’t his problem.

I know this is another thing altogether isn’t it.

Suppose it’s a blessing in disguise really

You say in your OP that the landlord can only offer 6 months not 12 months as agreed - I can't see a 12 month minimum term in the photos you've posted - is this written in the agreement or do you have it in writing anywhere else? There is usually a section in a tenancy describing the 'term'. Possibly try and get the agent to email you (rather than a phone call) saying that 12 months had been agreed and has now been changed.

Surely if it's a draft then it isn't enforceable anyway? I would contact Shelter and see if they can advice. Bloody shitbag landlords, you have.my sympathy op. I had a ll do this to me once after 5 months. It was so stressful and he expected his moronic ea to be wandering through at all hours with viewings whilst he counted his money from still having the place tenanted and moaned about how stressed he was. (Looking at you Guy Baker)

Move in. Once settled refuse every single viewing. Dont move out when 6 months is up. It'll take the LL ages to evict you & cost them lots of money too. If you're worried about referencing just explain you were lied to.