Sick of stress with this letting agency, are they all the same?

[Cheesestring11]

Seemed like a good agency, viewed a flat with my partner and we made a joint application.
I have screenshots signed and dated by both of us proving it was a joint application, I was down as the 'main tenant'.

I received the referencing requests and asked for a guarantor, I sent it all and passed.

Gave our notice to our current flat

I received a tenancy agreement which only had my name on, not my partner's. Asked them how come and they said 'we had no idea there would be two of you' even though I had clearly stated it on my application.

Then they said oh but that's fine we can either add him as a permitted occupier or a joint tenant.
They said if he fails a reference check then that's a breach of our tenancy (even though I passed on my own with a guarantor and could pay %100 of the rent, even though he's contributing)

We decided to go for permitted occupier in this case and we were told it would just involve an ID check as such.

Then my partner receives a full referencing check including proof of income etc.

I phoned them saying that we weren't planning to add him as a joint tenant, only an occupier, and they said oh well actually the landlord says he needs a full income check anyway.

I have now emailed and called the company stating that I am paying 100% of the rent as per the tenancy and that I passed the tenancy alone with a guarantor.
My partner cannot afford or show proof of being able to afford 100% of the rent on his own and why should he if he's an occupier ?

I told them i am very anxious that it will flag up as him being declined on income. They assured me it won't and that it will flag up saying i am the sole tenant who pays 100% of the rent. But who knows what to think with this agency.
Just so stressed with it and don't want to put anything at risk. Anyone else had this?

Am I reading this right - they haven’t actually said it’s been declined?

I’m a LL and I’d accept you on this basis, the agency usually puts it to the landlord so I’m sure you’ll be fine as long as he has the full picture

No but they said, IF he fails referencing then they can start the eviction process, it's just a lot of stress.

He's a UK citizen with no adverse credit, has proof of income etc but he cannot afford 100% of the income on his own, but he doesn't need to, though I'm worried someone may make some technical error and flag it as declined

It's just ridiculous they need proof of income if he's not even going to be on the tenancy

Flats are a bit like jobs. You don't hand in your notice until you have contracts for the new place signed. As pp said - they haven't declined you yet so you may be ok.

Sounds to me like just a bit of poor communication which is unfortunatly the norm with a lot of agents these days because you're not their main income the landlord is so they don't need to work better for you.

We couldn't afford to pay 2 months of rent, one for the old flat and one for the new flat plus a one month deposit

I still don't understand how they believed I was on my own when they have a signed and dated copy from 2 applicants

Me and my partner are both tenants but I'm the main tenant and references, affordability check, credit check etc were all done through me. The only thing they checked with my partner was ID. I'm surprised you need a guarantor though if your references and credit etc all fine, the only time I needed one was the first time I rented.

They cannot decline a permitted occupier unless they don't have the right to rent in the UK, his income is irrelevant as he is not contacted to pay the rent

I needed a guarantor as on my own I didn't earn 2.5 times the rent, but that shouldn't have mattered as it was a joint application though they somehow missed that

Well I think you just need to wait it out, the checks won't take long anyway. Other option is to pull out yourself and find another letting agent.

I just can't sleep at the minute and feel constantly on edge, I'm sure it will be fine but I feel messed about

I understand, moving is always a stressful time and it's never gone without a hitch for me!