Went to view a property in shoreham with my son today, which was new to the market for rental and a studio apartment for £625 per month.
My son loved the flat. I asked the young estate agent, I believe to be Jake, if any one before us had shown any interest. Agent said that one viewing didn't like it the other said they like it. At this stage we were under the impression the studio appartment was still available. One would think that if the estate agents had already of started proceedings for a future tenancy, all viewings would have been cancelled. So by saying that one other had said they liked it, wasnt telling us that the property had already been snapped up. My son said there and then inside the studio, I will have it. I have the deposit ready now.
The agent asked my son to ring the estate agent office to let them know. My son rang them straight away. He was then told, that Jake would call him back to start the proceedings.
Jake rang and spoke to my husband, then my son. My son gave him all the information they asked for and was assured everything was fine.
Jake then rang again to ask about my sons furlough due to the lockdown and wanted confirmation when that would be finishing. My son assured him it would finish by end June 2020. He also provided all details of his employer for agent to contact.
At this point, the agent assured my son that everything was going in his favour but somebody else had come forward and wants the property also. But again, he said to my son he had nothing to worry about and the references would go in his favour but they would have to send the landlord both parties details for the landlord to decide which tenant he wants.
It turned out the landlord decided on the female interest, for the reasons that she worked just around the corner from the property. This is what my son was told. Which should never have had any impact on the tenancy what so ever.
Firstly, when my son decided he wanted the flat, anyone after that had come forward, should have been told that the flat had gone subject to references, but would be in contact if anything changes the agents would get in touch with them.
If the agents had already taken a concrete interest, in the flat from a prior viewing, prior to my sons viewing, the viewing with my son should have been cancelled.
To send both details to the landlord after my son said he would take the flat immediately and pay the deposit, was like a lottery, unkind, and unprofessional. The landlord is prejudice and made a very sexist decision. If the landlord was in favor of female tenants, why the hell were they showing around males too. I think the agents have been very deceitful and unprofessional. Not at any time did they inform my son that there was strong competition. You only get that in buying, the best offer and so fourth, should not be happening in renting. We should have realised that something was a miss with this agent after their promises to make contact previously didn't materialise as we had to chase them to get an appointment for the viewing. The way my son has been treated to be told its a toss up between him and another, then being told after he lost it to the female, if anything changes or if she pulls out he would be first in line, was absolutely disgusting!!! I don't know what show the estate agents are running, but it is far from professional. Please take this as a warning!!