my full management estate agent do not pay my rent

englishbob_2

We wrote to companies house this week who have responded to say they are going to contact him and look into the matter (he has registered himself as Director of his new company and has put his residential address as the office address which is an offence). We also wrote to trading standards who have asked us to call back on Monday (1st June). We really don't know what else and how else we can stop this man and are basically reliant on the court order - however having read some of the other comments it appears he can still not pay us!!! even with a court judgement! We need to get him on Watchdog somehow and find out his home address - does anyone know if he drives a car and what his car REG is???? We know people in the police who could get the address from DVLA, however we would need his car REG number...................

englishbob_2

Duffballs - contact your landlords ASAP but please don't expect your deposit back in a hurry......... this guy is a disgrace and a conman!

tbs624

ealees_sarah wrote: »

Hello, I have just found out that Thom Doherty has set up a new business and as a landlord with rentapad have been ripped off badly by him. When I contacted the manchester letting centre they told me he was nothing to do with the business.

Thom Doherty is listed as the recent registrant for the domain name of the new company - www.manchesterlettingcentre.co.uk. His address is withheld as he is described as a " non-trading individual".

Given that licensing of letting agents is on the government agenda it would be a useful time to highlight this man's business methods via the Manchester MPs and to let both Shelter and CAB campaigns officers know how some LAs seem able to flout the law and let down both the LLs and the Ts they deal with.

Have any of you who are owed money contacted the Private Sector Rentals Officer at Manchester Council, because they really ought to be aware of how he operates on their patch. Someone may also want to let the Accomms officers at Manchester Met, Salford and Manchester Unis know as the agency seems to have student houses on its books. They may already be aware of problems with him and the greater the number of Ts/LLs affected the more likely it is that you can get the MEN to run a good piece on him.

lampkin

I think a friend of mine made a note of his car registration, I'll post it on here as soon as I have it.

Oh, I spoke to my local MP regarding the entire issue and that I wasn't satisfied with the enforcement of the DPS and asking for any support. Her response was a single line about bring the issue up in the house.

I also have a reference number for when I brought this issue up wit trading stardards, months back!

manchester_student

Hi there,


Im a student at Manchester Uni - Me and 2 other friends have put down a deposit (over £400 each) each for a house advertised with Rentapad, and I am in a simular position as to alot of people here, i.e. havnt been able to get in contact with him since placing the deposit.
Obvioulsy We are all now out of alot of money (for students anyway) and potentially dont have anywhere to live next year!

Iv been to his rentapad office a few times but there is never anyone in.......im unsure as to what to do next, so I would be greatful for any advice

tbs624

lampkin wrote: »

...Oh, I spoke to my local MP regarding the entire issue and that I wasn't satisfied with the enforcement of the DPS and asking for any support. Her response was a single line about bring the issue up in the house....

With some MPs you unfortunately do have to be more pushy and state exactly what it is that you would like them to do- did you make him/her aware that this was an LA who seems to be duping many people, not just you?

I'd get in touch again, say that you intend taking it to the papers - they all love the opportunity to be seen as an MP supporting their constituents before the local rag starts making things happen on an issue like this. I'm a big believer in making them to do the job they are paid to do. Do it by letter - no MP wants folk to see in the paper that worried constituents wrote to them and got a poor response (especially given the current furore over their second homes/expenses etc).

Is there a consumer slot, similar to R4's You & Yours, on any of the local Radio Stations? May be worth talking to Shelter's Campaigns Office and see what publicity routes they would recommend?

tbs624

manchester_student wrote: »

Hi there,


Im a student at Manchester Uni - Me and 2 other friends have put down a deposit (over £400 each) each for a house advertised with Rentapad, and I am in a simular position as to alot of people here, i.e. havnt been able to get in contact with him since placing the deposit.
Obvioulsy We are all now out of alot of money (for students anyway) and potentially dont have anywhere to live next year!

Iv been to his rentapad office a few times but there is never anyone in.......im unsure as to what to do next, so I would be greatful for any advice

Sorry to hear about your experience - do talk to your Uni's Accommodations officer as a matter of urgency , as there will be other students who are similarly affected. There will also no doubt be a good number of those whose tenancy agreements for the current academic year will be finishing shortly and they may find that they can't reteive their tenenacy deposits which were paid out at the start. The more publicity there is about LAs who behave in this way, the better. Also talk to your NUS representatives and the private sector rentals team at the local Council.

barnaby-bear

manchester_student wrote: »

Hi there,


Im a student at Manchester Uni - Me and 2 other friends have put down a deposit (over £400 each) each for a house advertised with Rentapad, and I am in a simular position as to alot of people here, i.e. havnt been able to get in contact with him since placing the deposit.
Obvioulsy We are all now out of alot of money (for students anyway) and potentially dont have anywhere to live next year!

Iv been to his rentapad office a few times but there is never anyone in.......im unsure as to what to do next, so I would be greatful for any advice

Do you have the LLs details (£3 from land registry - may reveal) - the LA is the AGENT of the LL so if the LA took a deposit and signed on behalf of the LL it may well be that the LL is still liable? For damage deposits this is the case so it wouldn't surprise me if the same principle applies for holding deposits etc. Does the LL know a deposit has been taken for his property - contacting him directly could help he owns the house and he still owns the house you like enough to want to rent - maybe cut out the middleman expecially if he's broken his contract with the LL.

barnaby-bear

duffballs wrote: »

just trying to get my deposit back now and it is starting to be a struggle. Promises to be interesting. Usually cannot get hold of rentapad for days on end then a quick phone call saying everything is in hand.

What should I do - contact the landlord now? Due to move out in next few weeks.

The LL is liable for the deposit - pursue him directly - it was his *bad* choice to use this LA. Not your problem.

clutton_2

about 3 years ago there was a similar scam in Manchester perpetrated by guys called Mike Stell and Mike Higson (Whitegates properties ?) and Adam Coote and Josh Craven (Mayfair properties). The police found hundreds of landlords and tenants who had been cheated out of money by these guys and their cohorts.

Manchester City Council worked with the police to bring a prosecution, but, as far as i know nothing ever happened - unless a MSEer knows different......

Unless you get together as a large group which can exert pressure on both the Manchester police and the council (who can take the case/eviodence to the police on your behalf) - you will be whistling in the wind.

my mates who lost money to this b*gger gave statements to the police - but nothing came of it....

tenants/ landlords losing money is not seen as high on the police priority list

good luck tho