Rental problems? Get legal advice

Questioner

Urgent! Help us! We have signed an acceptance form for a rental property stating that if we waive the rent, we owe an amount equal to the minimum rental period (this is 12 months €1,250 per month) as well as the administration and contract costs of 300 excl. VAT. We have not yet signed the rental agreement ourselves. However, we read on the internet that a signed acceptance form is binding. This means that we have to pay a total of €15,363. This can't be right? Is there a maximum fine (legally!) for breach of an acceptance agreement?

Lawyer

Signing the acceptance form does not create a rental agreement, so you are not yet bound to rental costs. Based on that form, it is investigated whether you are eligible for a rental home. If you do not accept that home, costs will be charged for the acceptance process. How much that is, is usually stated on the acceptance form. This may include lost rental income, but more than a month seems legally untenable to me.

Questioner

Great that there is also a response on Saturday. Thanks! However, the form has already been used to investigate whether we are eligible. We are eligible and have been promised the house by email. This means that both acceptance and acceptance are complete. Only the rental agreement itself has not yet been signed. The reason for the stress is that the acceptance form clearly states that signing it is the same as signing the lease. To be precise, the acceptance form states: 'by signing this agreement, the furnished living space at the following address has been agreed...' We only received the rental agreement after signing the acceptance form. Does this change your/the above answer?

Lawyer

I wonder why signing an acceptance form is considered the same as signing an agreement. Can you give me the name of the housing association? Then I will look up the acceptance form so that I can read exactly what the consequences of signing are. You can also send me a copy of your acceptance form. For that, use the opportunity to make direct contact.