u/heyemjey

Hi everyone, just looking for some advice as I’m not sure if this is normal when renting in England.

I paid a holding deposit on 1 August for a property I'm due to move into soon. My referencing has been going ahead, but I still haven't received a tenancy agreement to review or sign.
I asked the letting agent about it and was told that the landlord/client handles the tenancy agreement themselves, rather than the agent, and apparently their process is to provide the agreement on the actual move-in day.

I've asked whether I can at least have a draft copy beforehand so I can read through all the terms before moving in, but I'm waiting to see if the landlord will provide one.

I haven't paid the tenancy deposit or first month's rent yet — only the holding deposit.
Has anyone experienced this before? Is it fairly normal for a landlord to wait until move-in day to provide the tenancy agreement?

I'm worried about turning up on move-in day and either being presented with terms I wasn't expecting or, worst case, there being no tenancy agreement at all.

If the landlord doesn't provide an agreement by the move-in date, would I be entitled to ask for my holding deposit back, considering I'm still willing to proceed with the tenancy and haven't withdrawn?
Any advice or similar experiences would be really appreciated. Thank you!

Hi everyone!
I'll be moving to Peterborough (30 F) around September and I'm currently viewing properties. This will be the first time I'll have my own place instead of living in a house share, so I'm feeling a mix of excitement, anxiety, and fear. It's a big step for me, and while I'm looking forward to it, I'm also quite scared about starting over somewhere new.

I moved to the UK on my own five years ago and have been living near Central London ever since. Since I dont have any family here and only a small circle of friends, moving to a new city feels quite daunting.

I'd really appreciate any advice from people who have moved to Peterborough. What should I expect? Are there any areas, activities, or local tips you'd recommend? Is there anything I should know or avoid?

I'd also love to meet new people, especially other women who are in a similar situation or are looking to make new friends. If that's you, feel free to comment or send me a message. It would be lovely to connect before or after I move.
Thank you so much! 💕

Hi everyone,
We're currently gathering all the documents and getting everything ready for my husband's UK spouse visa application.
I just wanted to ask if anyone has been in a similar situation.

Would it be an issue if we submit his application on, say, 5th October, but I'm due to move into a new flat on 10th October?

The new tenancy agreement will already be signed, and we would include it with the application as evidence of our accommodation.

I'm probably overthinking it, but I just want to make sure this won't cause any problems with the application. Has anyone experienced something similar or knows if this is acceptable?
Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I'm planning to apply for a UK Family (Spouse) Visa, and my husband is currently in the Philippines.
I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has recently been through the process. I have a few questions:
What documents did you submit?
Did you provide any additional evidence beyond the required documents?
How long did the process take from application to decision?
Were there any common mistakes or issues I should avoid?

I'm also considering whether to use a visa agency or immigration solicitor. If you used one and had a positive experience, I'd be grateful for any recommendations. Likewise, if you applied successfully on your own, I'd love to hear how you found the process.
Thank you so much in advance for any advice or experiences you can share!