tricked by agency (urgent!!!!!)

[wertyub]

We have signed today a contract with estate agency to rent a flat.we signed all documents and after that we received keys.when we ask if they go to check the flat ,they said it was allready checked.(looked strange to us),so we went to flat and find a bathroom with a wallpaper falling from top,and bathroom in bad condition(we were not able to see it before because the agent who was showing the flat said,HE CANT SHOW THE BATHROOM, because somebody was inside).We were disgusted so we called back to agency to tell them we would like to cancel the contract and have our money back.They said NO and told us that they told lanlord to fix it.When we said we feel betraid and tricked by them and thats the reason why we want our money back,not just because of the bathroom,they said THEY WONT GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK,unless lanlord says it is reasonable.
I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO.WE PAID RENT FOR 6 MONTHS (�4800) AND NOW THEY SAY IF WE TAKE THEM TO COURT WE LOOSE.
CAN ANYBODY HELP PLEASE ???

[bednobs]

sorry werty, it's up to you to check the flat beore you enter into a contract

[redcrx]

i agree with bednobs. id have gone back once the person was out of bathroom for a better look, especially with such a high rent

[dot.haukes]

you should ask the landlord if he will reimburse reasonable decortating expenses, if not, just slap some wallpaper on and move onto the next problem life will no doubt kick up for you

[redcrx]

take dated photos and please make sure youve had a true inventory taken of whats there and the condition of the place.

[dot.haukes]

what part of the �4800 is the bond anyway? You should ask the landlord to adjust the amount of the bond to account for any reasonable works needed to put the bathroom right

[padanarm]

You're unlikely to get out of the lease unless the property is substantially different from when you viewed it.

Perhaps you 'mis-remember' the conversation with the agent. Perhaps the agent explained there were some things that they agreed to fix before you moved in. Maybe you made it clear to the agents that you accepted the property only on the understanding that these items would be fixed.

If that's the case then write to the landlord pointing out the works haven't been carried out, remind them that they agreed to carry them out and that this was a condition of the tenancy.

[wertyub]

Update to our story:
1.There was a picture in advert taken 2 years ago !! it was admitted by landlord(bathroom looked nice and clean,freshly renovated),but the reality was far from the advert.Landlord also said that he hasnt seen the bathroom in bad condition.(Isn`t this a false advertising?)
2.point is we think that the bathroom has not been showed intentionally.they have confirmed that they checked the flat
and everything is in good condition.(LIE OBVIOUSLY)
3.they charged us for checkout fee(thats ok i guess)but they were claiming it is a third party who does the checks.
Landlord said later on there is no third party-agency deals with everything.
And there were more lies from agency what we found out later to talking to different people involved.
So we are very disappointed and want to know if we can take action against the agency or have our money back?
We agree its partly our fault but still want to have an opinion from others.
Thank you very much for all responses

[Twenty20]

First of all, have you signed the inventory? This will state the condition of the property when you move in and you have to sign your agreement to this. Obviously you wont have signed an inventory for something you haven't seen, will you? What does the inventory say about the condition of the bathroom?

As an aside to that, why are you handing out �4800 for a property that you haven't seen all of? And why are you paying 6 months rent in advance? Have you also paid a deposit?

The inventory is the key though to any arguments about the condition (though I really can't believe you wouldn't ask to view the bathroom).