renting problem

[tracymort]

My sister was due to move into a new flat in may with her bloke. The landlady said yes, so the agency looked up their references and charged the �150 for it. However when the agency rang back to say all the refs were fine the lady said that she's now going to rent it someone else! My sisters current landlady has already promised (she did that as soon as she got asked for a reference) her room to someone else too. Can they do this?

[incitatus]

your sister s current landlady can whistle, because unless your sister gave her notice, she has to give her notice to quit. Just assuming because of a reference is not good enough. As for the pootative next landlady- There may be grounds for breach of contract but it would be tricky.

[sft42]

A verbal contract is still a contract and it does sound as though she has breached the initial agreement to let the flat to your sis & partner...However, the tricky part comes when trying to prove this as it will be your word against hers and it will be a long drawn out thing dragged through the courts and costing loads so unless getting a solicitor to fire off a quick letter stating your thoughts on the whole thing with you intent to sue for breach of contract, in the hope of scaring her into doing the right thing, works I would regretfully let it drop if I were you.

Inci is right on the second part though, simply because someone has asked for a reference from her current landlady is no reason to assume anything.....unless she had received a formal notice from your sister containing her intent to dissolve her contact with her existing landlady then nothing formal has happened at all.....depending on her contract thought it might be wise to approach this with caution though or they may find that their tenancy could be terminated for some spurious reason if they annoy her.....all very awkward which is why moving house rates as the second most stressful thing in life after the death of a partner.

[tracymort]

Thank you both very much! .