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Legal matters

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have any legal concerns we suggest you consult a solicitor.

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Original poster

Student flat Tenancy

22 replies

x444 · 03/07/2020 10:40

Daughter signed tenancy agreement with a company who have several flats in one building, paid no deposit and should move in next week. She has tried for the past two weeks to speak to someone about moving in times etc and no one got back to her, several emails and calls. Two days ago she received email saying she could not move in anytime during the summer and possibly September, but no date. They said in email due to Coronavirus, however word has it that they may have gone bust. The gates to the property have been boarded up. For two days now she has called, emailed etc and had no response, receptionist says no one in, or just popped out and will ring her back and no one does. Daughter moves out of her flat the day she is due to move to the new one so at present will be made homeless. She has found another flat and needs to sign a contract by tomorrow but she is scared to do this if she hasn't been let out of her old contract to the property she cant move in to. There are hardly any properties available in the Uni City she is in as everyone has let them due to the new term starting in September. We are desperately seeking advice, citizens advice will be 10 days to get back to us as they are so busy. Please can someone help with some advice? Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
x444 · 03/07/2020 10:50

Daughter signed tenancy agreement with a company who have several flats in one building, paid no deposit and should move in next week. She has tried for the past two weeks to speak to someone about moving in times etc and no one got back to her, several emails and calls. Two days ago she received email saying she could not move in anytime during the summer and possibly September, but no date. They said in email due to Coronavirus, however word has it that they may have gone bust. The gates to the property have been boarded up. For two days now she has called, emailed etc and had no response, receptionist says no one in, or just popped out and will ring her back and no one does. Daughter moves out of her flat the day she is due to move to the new one so at present will be made homeless. She has found another flat and needs to sign a contract by tomorrow but she is scared to do this if she hasn't been let out of her old contract to the property she cant move in to. There are hardly any properties available in the Uni City she is in as everyone has let them due to the new term starting in September. We are desperately seeking advice, citizens advice will be 10 days to get back to us as they are so busy. Please can someone help with some advice? Thank you

OP posts:
goingoverground · 03/07/2020 11:01

Do her uni accommodation service offer legal advice for housing/contracts? Which? have a legal advice service that costs about £9.99.

If she has a contract with a specified move in date and the property company are saying she can't move in for several months, then they aren't fulfilling their obligations of the contract. If they've broken the contract, they can't hold her to it.

Starisnotanumber · 03/07/2020 11:05

Try ringing shelter rather than CAB.They give specialist advice regarding housing

Original poster
x444 · 03/07/2020 11:11

We have tried the university who say we have to negotiate with the landlord but they are not responding. The problem is time, does she sign a new contract tomorrow and take this matter further. Its such a mess.

OP posts:
Original poster
x444 · 03/07/2020 11:12

We tried Shelter and they said to negotiate with the landlord ? Any further advice would take about 10 days from them

OP posts:
Redannie118 · 03/07/2020 11:16

My daughter moves into her uni flat on Tuesday so the whole Covid thing is utter bollocks. As PP said they have broken their contract,and have refused contact on multiple occassions. Tell her to sign her new contract- they havent got a leg to stand on.

Original poster
x444 · 03/07/2020 11:21

Thank you, she is so upset about it and would like to sign the new contract but is so scared she will be liable for the old one

OP posts:
Starisnotanumber · 03/07/2020 11:29

Is there a solicitor in university City she can get an appointment for today.
It will cost but cheaper than a year's rent on 2 properties. They will be able to check her contract and possibly send letter to landlord or reassure your dd.
If the landlord is limited company can you do free check on Companies House website

Original poster
x444 · 03/07/2020 11:40

Thank you, there are no solicitors available today, we have rang all of them. We did a cheque on companies house and it says High Risk but not sure what that means?

OP posts:
Original poster
x444 · 03/07/2020 11:41

or maximum risk, I can't remember which one it was, high or maximum

OP posts:
Starisnotanumber · 03/07/2020 11:51

Not sure of companies house thing sorry.
Can you find a solicitor near you and get your dd to scan and send contract to you.

Original poster
x444 · 03/07/2020 11:55

I have tried that too, unfortunately it looks like most solicitors don't work Fridays!! I can get an appointment on Monday, thank you

OP posts:
Starisnotanumber · 03/07/2020 12:02

Could your daughter contact the new flat rental and say that she cannot sign until Monday and make an appointment late Monday afternoon to go into office.
If its after the solicitors visit then you will know what the situation is and if your daughter is to go with new rental or not.
Does she have to move out today....?

Original poster
x444 · 03/07/2020 12:12

Unfortunately their are 16 people on the waiting list for the new property, hence why she needs to sign later. Solicitors appointment Monday afternoon. We are thinking now just to let the new property go and move further out of the city to find somewhere else. Thank you

OP posts:
ArcheryAnnie · 03/07/2020 12:15

I am not anything resembling a legal adviser, so take this for the civilian opinion that it is. but: haven't the landlords broken the contract first, by not allowing her to move in on the specified date?

Original poster
x444 · 03/07/2020 12:51

Thats what we are hoping but a lot of people still say not? Its so confusing but thank you

OP posts:
goingoverground · 03/07/2020 13:51

Who is "a lot of people"? Are they legally trained? If her tenancy has a start date, the landlord would have to provide alternate accommodation if she can't move in on that date, otherwise they aren't fulfilling the contract.

You might want to ask MN to move this to the Legal board.

Original poster
x444 · 03/07/2020 14:25

Thank you,
We asked other letting agents and they all said that we would still be in a contract with them.
I'm not sure how to ask to move to the Legal Board !

OP posts:
AHintOfStyle · 03/07/2020 14:30

@x444 the way to get it moved is to report your post and ask MNHQ to move it - I've done this for you x

MNHQ
DawnMumsnet · 03/07/2020 14:36

Hi @x444, we're moving your thread over to our Legal Matters topic now.

Thanks to everyone who's given advice so far. Smile

Original poster
x444 · 03/07/2020 14:40

Thank you, so kind

OP posts:
Familylawsolicitor · 08/07/2020 23:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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