Hello, I've been living in one apartment for so long that I forgot how the housing market works. It's been a long flat hunting season and finally I arrived to a point where it seems a three agencies are willing to rent me a flat.
I'm just curious at which point should I feel secure I have the flat so if I like it I could start saying everyone other that it's too late. At this moment two agencies contacted me to confirm my application, asked about some more details and confirmed they are going to do the background check - does it already mean I am getting those flats if the background check is OK or will I be only shortlisted? I guess there's a follow up question, am I already liable for "not signing the contract" for any of those agencies?
You are not renting the flat until you and the other party have signed the rental contract
If you submit a rental application to a regie/companie for a particular you may have to pay a (small) fee if you back out (read the small print), but otherwise nothing is given until the contract is signed. Everything else is just games.
If you are waiting for a response it doesn't hurt to call the regie to get an update. They are not usually the ones in a hurry.