Dear Sir or Madam,
I am planning to rent a two-bedroom flat at 24 Park Lane, and I am writing to ask for your advice before I sign the contract.
The agreement is for twelve months, and the rent is 950 pounds a month. It states that I must pay a deposit equal to two months' rent, and that the landlord can enter the flat with only 24 hours' notice. It also says that I must pay 200 pounds if I leave early.
I am worried by several of these conditions. Twenty-four hours seems very short, and I am not sure the early-leaving charge is reasonable, because my job may require me to move abroad. I also do not understand how my deposit will be protected.
Could you tell me whether these clauses are normal and legal, and whether I should ask for any changes? I have enclosed a copy of the contract and would be grateful for an answer before Friday.
Yours faithfully,
Greta Lindholm