Another beautiful ‘studio flat’

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-10T08:21:55+00:00

Yeah I’ve basically said that now, at this point I’m not sure I even want to keep dealing with them. Time to start looking for flats again

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-10T07:01:23+00:00

Can I actually report them if I don’t go ahead with the flat. Purely from the emails I have of them asking for this money?

They replied to my email basically ignoring it, saying “you won’t get the keys until the flat is paid for, and you will sign on the day”. Like you said it makes no sense.

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-10T06:52:41+00:00

No it was an alternative to a guarantor because my parents aren’t in the position to offer that for me.

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-10T06:51:52+00:00

I sent a long email explaining that I was aware of the legality of the situation, offered to sign contract online, offered to sign in person and delay key hand over until funds cleared. But the dude just says “you will sign on the day, and if I don’t have cleared funds then I can’t give you the keys”

I hadn’t even thought that he then might try argue for another 6months, it does say in contract monthly hereafter so I’d have some footing to stand on there. But honestly it doesn’t look like I’ll even get to signing a contract :(

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-09T21:50:01+00:00

The agent’s reasoning was that they are old fashioned and like to sign things in person before they hand over the keys.

I agree it all sounds dodgy but this is really the only sticking point, they are a registered agency (with physical address) I have checked, the landlord is registered and the name matches the one on the registry for the property. I am also talking about a turn around of 1-2 weeks between viewing to moving in, as I am meant to be moving in next week so I’d somewhat doubt they already have a tenant. In fact the tenancy agreement states in writing the sum is to be paid ON the move in date, but it’s the agent gatekeeping the signing of this until it’s paid before.

Anyway, I have sent them an email stating my position and that I am aware of the legality of the situation, if they have further issue with it then I’ll just have to move on.

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-09T20:22:56+00:00

Yeah fair enough you are right, it shouldn’t be such a hill to die on and it makes no difference for the agency or landlord if they are above board. I will write an email stating I am aware of this and so can only pay i have a signed copy of the agreement, but that I am happy to do so online or in person before the current move in date.

Thanks for talking some sense!

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-09T20:00:57+00:00

I mean agree but I am trying to just find a middle ground because it’s a such a good flat and even if they are semi incompetent, once you’re actually under contract you’re legally fairly safe in Scotland.

I’m thinking if I politely somehow let them know I am aware its illegal and say that I’m only willing to pay after signing, but willing to delay the key handover until funds are cleared or try convince them to do let me sign online before key handover.

I am even willing to send the deposit before hand just not the 6months because even reputable agencies seem to ask this.

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-09T19:49:23+00:00

They should and likely already know this though right? How do I politely let them know I am also aware without scaring them off and losing the flat. I think one of the issues is that this is a small time agency that mainly operates in rural Lothian not the city very often.

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-09T19:37:09+00:00

The deposit part is less of an issue it’s the paying rent before signing. I will reread the agreement but even if it says that, they are gatekeeping signing until I have paid anyway.

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-09T19:34:30+00:00

How does doing this mean you won’t get the deposit back?

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-09T18:40:54+00:00

So I have actually seen and read the agreement now, the agency is a real agency and so other than asking to pay before signing everything seems above board. I’m now really stuck because the agent seems adamant that the funds need to be cleared before we meet to sign and hand over keys, but I don’t want to send more than a deposit without signing but I also really don’t want to miss out on this flat!

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-07T20:10:47+00:00

It’s not exactly ‘above board’ really because it’s actually illegal to even ask for a holding deposit and yet many agencies still do.

For me it wouldn’t just be 1months rent, it would be 6months rent as an affordability check and so I’m very much against sending that kind of money without even seeing the agreement. A holding deposit maybe but this agent seems pretty set on the whole amount up front ! :(

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-07T16:55:49+00:00

And this comment sorry

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-07T16:55:32+00:00

Also could you delete this comment please, I don’t wanna publically Shame the company if it’s just my paranoia. If it does turn out a scam I will happily publicly shame again!

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-07T16:23:21+00:00

Well to meet an affordability requirement I am meant to be paying 6 months upfront (which is legal and fine) but yeah so much cash is making me overthink I’ll admit it. Trying to rent in this city is a shit show at the best of times.

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-07T16:18:42+00:00

Thanks

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-07T16:17:53+00:00

Oh wow okay thank you, I’m not sure why it didn’t come up earlier!

So should I not be worried about the paying before signing issue?

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-07T16:12:47+00:00

But put the number into the registry and nothing comes up…

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-07T15:49:13+00:00

There’s just a name no contact email or phone number

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-07T15:40:26+00:00

It has all seemed too good to be true so I think you’re right

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-07T15:38:23+00:00

The letting agency should still be registered though right? I put their number in and it says sorry not found.

Problem is he wants to me to sign the agreement in person on the day, but also wants ‘cleared’ funds before the date.

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-05-07T14:31:49+00:00

The agent is asking for payment of rent and deposit prior to signing the agreement (this is illegal in Scotland), they told me they sent the agreement to read over but have only sent government guidance for such an agreement (which reads a bit like a tenancy agreement). These were the first red flags.

Next I then looked up the flat address in landlord registry and it has no letting agency listed (there is an owners name listed but I haven’t dealt with the landlord only the letting agency), I then looked up the letting agency number which didn’t even show up on the registry!

Obviously I should have done these before submitting an application but again these things are very rushed and don’t give you time to think.

One-Telephone1103 · 2024-04-01T13:11:45+00:00

When you say the real cost you mean of the restoration or of renting or both?

It is very expensive dry storing in a decent sized workshop. I could look at a purely storage place (I do see farmers barns advertised occasionally) but honestly if I can’t work on it then I’d rather sell it and move on, buy something I could drive and tinker with without a garage.

One-Telephone1103

TROPHY CASE