Gah.

[denny]

"...and if there are no more interesting surprises coming my way [...] then I'll be living here from mid-June on."

I knew it was tempting fate when I wrote that.

So yes, today the agent gets back to me with the news that his friend (who I still don't believe in) has pulled out of the supposed deal, so we're back to the landlord not being happy to hold the place empty for four weeks. The agent is going to get back to me "later today, or tomorrow" with any further ingenious thoughts he has on the subject, but I'm guessing they'll all involve me paying money I don't have for a property I don't want or need until the date I've already specified.

At this point I've decided the deal is very probably fucked - given that I was supposed to give my notice on my current place tomorrow, and I'm not doing that unless and until I've got a signed tenancy agreement for the next place in my hand first. I am not playing this ridiculous fucking game of 'last minute panic flat-hunting' that seems to be expected by letting agents in that area, with no choice but to take whatever you can find in the week before your notice runs out on your current abode. I don't really have time to look at any more flats before my surgery, and obviously I won't be able to look at any for a while after my surgery. This means I'll have to commute from my current location for a while (with a dodgy leg, great), and then look for property again once I'm in that area during the day, and once my leg is up to the walking involved - so maybe late June, early July, I dont know really. Then another month for my notice on the current place, so I won't be in central London until autumn at this rate.

I'm pissed off with the agent because I'm fairly certain this little burst of greed was his idea originally rather than the landlord's, so I won't be using that agency when I start looking again. Not that I'm under any delusion that anyone in that industry is particularly honest, but you can only ignore so many of them at a time - so I'll start with the ones that have personally inconvenienced me or my friends, and see what that leaves me.

Comments

[indusbitch.livejournal.com]

aw shit hon & it all looked like you were so sorted out :( they might give in yet when they see you are serious.

[libellum.livejournal.com]

Meh! The good part of this is you won't be moving during thesis argh, and you don't have to pack in the next fortnight, which means I'll have time to help you with it :)

[missyasmina.livejournal.com]

Pokker. Thats no fun. :-/
Hopefully the land-lord decides he dont want to go tenant-hunting anymore, and sticks with you.

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing maybe he's found someone else he thinks would make a good tenant, and they're ready to move in sooner than me. *shrug*

If that's the case, hopefully they'll steal all his furniture and run away owing him lots of money ;)

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

I know it's the principle (and of course the money itself), but how much is delaying getting a place actually going to cost you? Have you worked it out? It may make more sense to bite the bullet on this one.

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Delaying doesn't cost me anything, in fact it saves me money (as the rent increase to live nearer work is more than my travel expenses to commute) - it just inconveniences me.

I really don't have the funds to compromise on it to any useful extent (like, more than a day or two), even if I wasn't being stubborn.

[ev1ldonut.livejournal.com]

Just put it to them straight. Tell them you don't particularly want to move, you don't need to move, so they either give you the contract, or you go elsewhere. Make it clear that you don't need them. You are definitely in the stronger position because that is the truth.

If they still keep trying to get more money out of you, then just take great satisfaction in telling them to shove it up their arses. :)

[aiwendel.livejournal.com]

do you have contact details for the landlord? Can you talk to him direct cos it sounds like he's happy with you etc and maybe that's a better way of going about it than throught the evil agency (having recently watched a letting/estate agents are evil program...)

[belaroo.livejournal.com]

All landlords care about is occupancy so you are definatley in a stronger position. They want you to think that the flat will go, in reality they are desperate to get you in early to avoid a month of no rent.
I would risk loosing it, if you do, there are others. Either way, you get to move in on your terms.
Estate agents are a demon species, but at the end of the day they need you more than you need them. Wait to when you want to move in...then get very drunk on the money you've saved!

[hythloday.livejournal.com]

How annoying for you. Is it possible to ask the agent for a "second look", and talking to the landlord while you're doing so? Failing that, there doesn't seem to be much else you can do. What rotten timing.

Let me know when you do move and I'll give you a hand.