These questions are in my mind and I couldn't get them off my chests. I hope someone here may be able to help clear them off my mind. After viewing a bedsit (sharing small kitchen and toilets with 6 other tenants/strangers) on the ground floor, I paid the admin. fee in a rather hurriedly manner. I like the size of the room and the clean toilet. However, another toilet in the underground floor had a wall torn off beside the toilet. I guess it is some kind of plumbing work unfinished. I don't plan to use it so I decided that it doesn't really matter to me. (should I be worried?) Admin fee fee ~ GBP200.00 for credit check/tenancy agreement/paper work. It was already paid using debit card on the viewing day, so I have a copy of the receipt printed off the portable machine (the kind that they use in the restaurants when you pay on the dining table). - Is it a legal copy? - Shouldn't I get a letter-head copy with their stamp on? Viewing The viewing was rather in a hurry because the agent said he couldn't park his car outside for long illegally. I didn't have time to check whether the window has lock, whether the bed and sofa are in good condition, who the other 6 tenants are, whether the fridge (in the room) is safe for use. I didn't even see the washing/dryer machines. - May I request to view the flat again and to be given enough time to do above? Payment The agent told me that I need to pay 2-month deposit & 1st month rent. The end total becomes GBP150 more than that. - What else is usually paid in the 1st payment, apart from those? I am a little confused. Inventory Checklist I have emailed them (over the weekend) to request another visit so that I can do an inventory checklist (to check electrical switches are working, window lock is secure, fridge is safe to use) and to take pictures before moving in. I haven't got a reply. - May I request to do so before paying deposits and 1st month payment? Some horrible stories in the internet states many different versions about this. Copy of Tenancy Agreement I haven't got a copy of the tenancy agreement. But I was told that the property can only be hold for 2 weeks. I want to get the tenancy agreement checked by Citizen Advice Bureau or such. - When do we usually get the copy? - Shouldn't we be given a few days to read through and check through, before paying deposit & 1st month rent? Please help. It all seems a bit too much to handle for a single person who works in another city.

I am indeed puzzled by some letting agents who want to withhold deposit of 2-month. Most of them advertise 1-month deposit only. Why is that?