Additional person on a contract - do you need to redo the entire contract from scratc

[Alexandr]

Dear all,

At the moment I am renting the apartment by myself (the tenancy agreement is entirely on me); I asked the agents whether I could move in my friend and get him on the contract as well and they said that in order to do that they need to arrange a totally new contract. I suspect they are doing that to get their fees and I dont think it should be that hard to add another person to the existing contract. Can you please let me know whether this is the case and what whether I can bring some arguments against a totally new contract.


Thank you and waiting to hear from you!

[Interlaken]

It is up to the landlord or agent to issue contracts. You cannot just add any Tom, Dick or Mariusz to an existing agreement.

The new tenant may need to be referenced and credit checked and the tenants made ' jointly and severally' liable for rent and bills.

Yes, there will be fees as someone has to do this work. In a previous post were you not trying to sub-let without informing the agents I remember?

[jpkeates]

Alexandr, you have an existing agreement with the landlord.
You want to change it.

The landlord can agree or decline.
The landlord can set conditions if they wish, including fees.
The agent is acting for the landlord (at least that's the theory).

That's just how it is, I'm afraid.

[bhaal]

I'm afraid this is the rip-off reality that is renting in England. Agents will happily charge you over 100 pounds for the required changes (which involve i) adding an extra name to the front of the agreement and the parties clause; ii) adding the same name as an extra signature block and iii) changing the dates (though even this may not be required). Any person of moderate intelligence could figure out what to do and type the extra words in about five minutes. I would suggest that if the agents request you pay them to draw up a new contract that you ask them for a word version of your existing contract and offer to make the required changes yourself. If they tell you a solicitor has to draft the contract tell them they will be reimbursed on sight of the solicitor's invoice. They will almost certainly whine and say that you can't do it or that they can't send you the invoice for some made up reason, but you should at least try.

[theartfullodger]

And, just in case Alexandr is in Scotland, such charges in Scotland are illegal .... (come on Engerland, catch up!!)

[jpkeates]

The deposit will also need to be sorted out, as it will probably need to be re-protected (or the agreement drafted so that the deposit is from one of the two of you only - which is a pain).
The statutory information about the protection will also have to be supplied regardless as it will be a new lease.

[Interlaken]

Could be Alexandr is a rogue landlord?

He rents a 2 bed property at £800pcm and sublets to various other individuals (say 8) at £100 per week cash. New tenants sleep in the lounge, bedrooms and just about any where else. Deposits in cash are taken and no protection. Tenants are given a 'lodger agreement'.

When agent sends letter to inspect A tells tenants to get lost for the day and take their meagre goods with them. They can return later that night.

There are certain hot spots in the UK where this is happening and some on my own patch.