Urgent help needed on letter of intent, and landlord pulling

[snaw]

Hi,

Can anyone advise please, need some help urgently.

We just moved to Singapore, and spent last 2 weeks looking for a place and found somewhere we liked. On Sunday we signed a letter of intent with our agent, and gave him a cheque, and arranged for our furniture to be moved in, kids nursery etc. Our lease was due to start on Monday the 4th Jan.

We just heard the landlord got another higher offer from another agent, and the agent is asking us to match this offer or we lose the place. We're now out of the country for the next few days, returning on the day before our our 'move in date'.

Can anyone advise where we stand on this? Very urgent as you can imagine.

Regards,

John

[sundaymorningstaple]

You've been had by the oldest trick in the book here. Unlike your home country, their word isn't their bond. You need to give cash and ensure you get a receipt ON THE SPOT. This is a prime ploy of agents here. Get a check deposit and then wave in under the noses of other prospective renters so they start a escalating bidding war. You are the one who loses out. Until it is deposited or cashed it's nothing but a piece of disposable paper to be used to jack up the price of the flat. I would stop payment on the check and get as far away from that agent as possible. I would also report him to his agency as well.

[Saint]

You've been had by the oldest trick in the book here. Unlike your home country, their word isn't their bond. You need to give cash and ensure you get a receipt ON THE SPOT. This is a prime ploy of agents here. Get a check deposit and then wave in under the noses of other prospective renters so they start a escalating bidding war. You are the one who loses out. Until it is deposited or cashed it's nothing but a piece of disposable paper to be used to jack up the price of the flat. I would stop payment on the check and get as far away from that agent as possible. I would also report him to his agency as well.

Welcome to Singapore and the delight's of agents here, SMS has summed up the common tricks agents and landlord play, wouldn't be surprised if you aren't bidding against yourself! Walk away and report the agent.