Signing an incomplete contract

R

Roxi_B4b3

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2012
Messages
588
Reaction score
0
Location
Sydney, Australia
I am in the process of renting out a new apartment. After a lot of searching, I have finally found a complex that I really like. There isn't a unit available at the moment, and there is a waiting list. Now the estate agent wants me to sign a lease agreement to be able to put me on the waiting list. In the agreement I give them permission to create a debit order for the rent each month, but obviously I cannot fill in the contract in full as I don't know the occupation date, and I don't know in what unit I will be moving into. This makes me a bit uncomfortable.

Is this legal and normal practice?
 
IANAL, but that does sound a bit... odd.

Does he expect you to sign a lease agreement without an actual occupation date? I would also be worried...

Not sure if really legal, but normal- with estate agents, anything is possible...
 
In my opinion this seems like unethical practice, I don’t know the whole story here, but to me it seems that the estate agent want to play with your emotional integrity. You starting with completing the contract, may make you obliged in continuing to complete the contract when the time come in regard with availability. Keep your options open and make that clear to the estate agent and always, this is a contract, take it home, comprehend the contract or even ask advise on the contract, then complete it when you are 100% certain that this is the right agreement and that everything is in order.
 
Stay far away from this. You do not even know which unit you will be getting and then to create a debit order already for a waiting list, Whole thing sounds a tad fishy. No it is not normal. Also consider this if the agent cannot even give you a move in date but there is a waiting list then the turnover on the renters sounds high, why is that ?
 
No. Don't sign the contract. Perhaps the agents intentions are not bad, but I wouldn't risk it. Just wait for it to become available or look elsewhere.
 
"Normal practise" in estate agencies is a relative term, just be careful with this, as you could be locked into this contract for a lot longer time period than what you expect and to make matters worse it could result in you being unable to make other arrangements for housing .i.e the debit order obligations
 
How can you sign a lease agreement for a non-existent property? A lease agreement has to be for a specified property at a specified address. You would be crazy to sign any sort of contract that is not a proper lease agreement for a property that you have already physically inspected and know that you would be happy to live in.
 
Contract signing 101.

Read the contract
Make sure you understand it
Don't feel pressured to sign
Don't sign an incomplete contract
Ge legal advice if needed.
 
Roxi_B4b3 said:
I'm actually trying to find a place closer to work in Randburg
Click to expand...

Why i'm hesitant to buy in Centurion, if i was to switch jobs i'd be very far from everything. Don't want to end up in a similar situation 1-2 yrs later. #toughchoices
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X