If we have signed a contract for a property to be let to us through an estate agent and we have paid a deposit and 1months rent in advance and a copy of the contract has been sent to the landlord although we do not know if they have signed it, can the landlord pull out with no valid reason?
And do we have any legal standing,the estate agent has already agreed to refund all monies to us including their administration fees, can we sue the landlord for undue stress caused through them cancelling the agreement after all

There is a lot of stress for all of us nowadays, waiting on a landlord to say yay or nay is one of those stressful incidents. I don't think you can sue him on those grounds. You are getting your money back so just leave it at that.

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Originally Posted by Carrie Ann Pullen

If we have signed a contract for a property to be let to us through an estate agent and we have paid a deposit and 1months rent in advance and a copy of the contract has been sent to the landlord although we do not know if they have signed it, can the landlord pull out with no valid reason?
And do we have any legal standing,the estate agent has already agreed to refund all monies to us including their administration fees, can we sue the landlord for undue stress caused through them cancelling the agreement after all

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Don't know what State you are in but in many if not most you cannot collect punitive damages - pain and suffering - on a contract matter.

Also, until the Contract is actually signed by both parties... there is no Contract. I believe in the eyes of the law you put down a deposit (which included the rent), the landlord never entered into the Contract, you got your money back and suffered no damages.

Same thing if you buy a car and they play the "I have to talk to my Manager" game - you sign the contract and hand them a deposit check and they go off and lean on the water cooler or something and watch you sweat and then come back and say, "Sorry, but for just a little bit more ..." The contract was not violated - there was no contract because the other party didn't sign.

Not slamming car salespeople - that's just how life works in many professions.

I suspect you are in the UK, but what Judy said holds true I think. Unitl the landlord accepts the lease, you have no deal. If he refuses and your money is refunded, then you have been made whole and have no recourse.