UK Landlord Forum / Life

Good afternoon all.

I wonder if someone could help me out with a bit of advice.

I have recently moved into a new rented flat (move in date 2/11) and the agents are insisting on me setting up the s/o for the 29th of each month, 3 days before the rent due date.  They say this is so it has time to clear and get to the landlord in time for the 2nd (I pay the agent, as per the sta).

I requested an alteration to the mandate, for me to pay the rent on the 2nd November.  The agents replied "As requested you would like the rent money to be taken out of your account on the 2nd of every month as opposed to the 29th. It takes 3 days to be allocated and cleared into the landlords account so instead of the landlord being paid on the 2nd of every month he will be getting his rent on the 5th of every month therefore there is a short fall in the contract of 3 days. The 3 days rent totals out to be £108.49. I have to get this payment in advance to then get the standing order mandate amended and corrected for your rent due date to be changed"

My understanding, looking at the sta, is that I need to have cleared funds in the agents account BY 2nd of each month.


The relevant entry in the sta reads:

The rent is payable by standing order to the Landlords agent in advance by the following installments:

The sum of 1,100.00 to be paid on the signing hereof in respect of the second day of November two thousand and thirteen to the first day of December two thousand and thirteen and thereafter the sum of 1,100.00 to be paid on the second day of each calendar month throughout the remaining term.

As we both bank at the same branch of the same bank (natwest) - they will receive the rent via fastpayment, therefore i don't see why we need to allow time for clearing.

I have since told them that, rather than pay on the 2nd, I can set up a s/o for the last day of each month, so they will have the rent in plenty of time - but they still insist tere will be some rent shortfall that I need to pay!

Can any of you offer advice here?

Many thanks for your help.