Aibu to be so angry with letting agent?

[housewoes2]

I have name changed.

My landlord is selling, so we're looking for a short term rental whilst we complete on our house as he wants to do a lot of renovations and we can't stay there whilst he does them. That's fine.

We had an inspection last month and I cleaned the house within an inch of its life, the place was gleaming and I stayed up after my night shift to make sure the dog (who we have permission for ) wasn't a pest during the visit and the agent said everything was fine.

We've been informed that due to the awful reference from the agent we won't be allowed to proceed with the house that we've found, I've asked for a copy of the reference and it's so far from the truth it's horrific.

It mentions, beer cans and used condoms and dishes piled up in the sink, bin bags in the garden etc.

I've spoken to the agent who apologised and said they have accidentally given our next door but one neighbour's inspection report instead of ours 😡.

I asked them to send the proper one and they have but they landlord of the new house has gone with someone else.

I'm so angry! Aibu?

You're obviously not unreasonable, and that's appalling. But you have very little leverage, and there are no consequences for the agent, unless you fancy a claim for defamation - not recommended.

I'd be asking the agent to assist you in finding somewhere else. That's a horrendous error

The agents are lucky you aren't vidictive as you could push how long it takes you to leave

Oops meant to ask- what can I can do now? Can I ask the agent to give us more time? We were 3 weeks into the application and now we have to start all over again.

Been there, done that. Unfortunately we had to start looking for something new as even with the new reference the landlord to be thought the original one was too worrying, however we never got to see the reference (very annoying, apparently data protection but pre GDPR)
Makes moving house again extremely worrying, despite that this was a few years ago so I spent a month worrying about them doing this again!

@housewoes2 when does your tenancy end and when were the notices to leave issued?

@lyralalala it was served on the 1/8 and gives us 2 months. So technically it ends on the 1/10 but I'm not sure if we can stay longer?

You can ask, you can demand, but you don't have any right to it. And it will be the landlord who you're asking to make the concession in order to make good a cock up which was not the landlord's doing. He or she may quite reasonably say that your grievance is with the agent, and that they need the house back on the agreed date.

@housewoes2 Ring Shelter and they’ll give you the full legal lowdown

At the end of the day notices are notice that they intend to go to court to have you removed so you can stay until such point, indeed anyone who is seeking social housing has to stay until evicted, however there is a cost to that (emotionally, stress wise and potentially financially).

Speak to shelter, get accurate legal advice, make sure the notices were issued properly (They'll make sure they are accurate in accordance with your tenancy) and then speak to your landlord and see if they can give you a bit of leeway given the error

And whilst it is the agents mistake they are employed by your LL so your LL carries a little responsibility too (and I say that as a LL who no longer uses a LA for similar reasons)

Tell your local newspaper. That should sufficiently damage their repuation, as they have done to you.

Could you get an air bnb or find another rental but get the agents to pay for the difference if it's more expensive?

I would report them for breach of GDPR

I always try and guess if people are being unreasonable from the title - if it has lettings or estate agents in it, it's an automatic YANBU from me.

(And having read it, no, YANBU!)

But you have very little leverage

OP has quite a lot of leverage as they need her co-operation if they want to get on with the renovations. Tell the agents you now can't move out on the 1st unless they pay for a hotel and storage for your stuff. They can of course proceed to get a court order, but that will take time and cost money, and they may well take the view that it's simpler to placate you, particularly if you point out that you could sue for defamation as well.