Adding A "rider" Before Signing

[chrissa1]

My daughter and her partner are moving into a rented house at the weekend. They are paying all the monies to the Estate Agent on Thursday and then after coming up to Northumberland for her stuff, they are driving South to sign the lease and get the keys, on Saturday.
My question: they will be signing before they have seen the house after all the promised painting and decorating have been done although, the landlady seems an honest person, and said everything would be done.

Is it possible and can they add a Rider to the agreement that they are signing, saying, subject to everything being completed as promised. Or, do they just sign and keep their fingers crossed? Thanks.

[woofgang]

They will need to raise (tactfully lol) the fact that they want to add the rider and get the landlady's agreement, she can't be made to accept it. If she refuses, will it be a dealbreaker, ie will they then refuse the rental? Have they got anything in writing regarding what has been promised?

[chrissa1]

There is no chance they will refuse the rental, woofgang. As you say, it would have to be done with tact.
The lady herself said to them not to pay a penny until they were absolutely happy but the Estate Agents are wanting the money on the Thursday, so maybe they are committed anyway.

[woofgang]

if they won't refuse the rental, then what point adding the rider? In those circs, i would be saying to the estate agent that the landlady has said not to hand over cash till they are happy. The estate agent can get this confirmed from the landlady?

[chrissa1]

Very true woofgang. Thanks. What if the EA won't hand over the keys until the money is paid?

[woofgang]

Then refer them back to the landlady

[ToraToraTora]

Ignore the estate agents, don't pay any money until they are happy. The landlady is the one letting out the property.

[themas]

What date does the tenancy start? If it is the Saturday then deposit & rent is not due until Saturday, unless there is a specific term which they have signed up to which says something different. I would certainly not pay this money before they have signed the tenancy agreement - which you say is Saturday - & I think the agent is in the wrong to ask them to do so. Until they sign the tenancy they are not committed & neither is the landlady so they would be paying for something for which no contract exists.

There may be other money they are committed to paying the agent - for credit check, preparing the tenancy agreement etc. - & there may be something which makes them liable to pay that before signing the tenancy.

[chrissa1]

All is well. They have signed the agreement, paid and met the landlady at the property.
They drove up and down to Southampton in 24 hours, having loaded and unloaded the van.

They are knackered but happy. Thanks for all your input.

Chrissa