Question

Moving in a Tenant (England) | Tenancy Agreements (England)

What if we checked tenant in a day early?

25 Oct 2016 | 2 comments

As I live abroad, I like to get as much as poss done myself in advance, esp when tenant, guarantor and I are all in 3 different places.

Current tenants moving out 1st Nov. I left a couple of days void, in case any patch-painting etc to be done in between tenants. So start date of new tenancy on documents is 4th Nov.

All docs with original signatures are exchanged, and reservation fee and first month rent are in bank.

If flat is left pristine by outgoing tenants, and nothing to be done, would there be a problem if new tenant moved in a day early on 3rd? (New tenant would like that and I try to be accommodating where poss).

Would it be essential for dates on all docs to be changed to 3rd Nov and signed and witnessed where appropriate?

I have an agent doing check-in, but my instinct is to let things be, as I am a control freak and can’t be there myself. I would like know the position, though.

Answer

2 Comments

  1. guildy

    I don’t really see a problem with this.

    The worst case scenario is that they have a verbal tenancy for the day of the 3rd November (which wouldn’t be an AST as no rent would be payable). However, once the 4th arrives, the AST kicks in and non of it matters.

    As long as you have all the monies, including first months rent, I don’t see any issue.

    If ever there were problems in the future and possession needed, you should never mention the day early because it would only cause unnecessary confusion. If asked, they only had keys early for measuring and cleaning purposes.

  2. Danny

    Thanks very much indeed. Sorry for delay in replying.

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