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Question Details: I recently signed the carbon copy of a tenancy agreement for a flat. I would like to back out of this agreement. I haven't signed the coversheet due to it not being there when I signed nor have I paid the bond. Am I bound to the agreement? What can I legally do?
Filed under Tenancy | 1887 View(s)
Community Law Wellington & Hutt Valley
Yes, you are likely bound to the agreement. There is no rule that the cover sheet must be signed, and in fact the law (the Residential Tenancies Act 1986) allows unwritten tenancy agreements. So it sounds like you have entered into a tenancy agreement.
How you can get out of it will depend on a few things, like whether there are other tenants, and whether the tenancy is fixed term (has a specified end date) or periodic (open-ended). Click here to read about ending a tenancy agreement: www.communitylaw.org.nz
Or take your tenancy agreement to your local Community Law Centre for advice: www.communitylaw.org.nz
As you have not yet paid the bond, you may find that talking to the landlord will work as they can move on and focus on finding new tenants rather than spending time and energy chasing you for the bond and rent. Sometimes in circumstances like yours people find new tenants and landlords accept that.
Answered 21 Jan 2013. The IMPORTANT NOTICE below is part of this answer.
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