Property Managment Company Nightmare!!!

abledj

Please please can someone help us

We use a management company to collect the rent & generally keep us in touch with whats going on in the property. They found the tennent in the first place & after an initial 6mth lease she decided to take up our offer of a years one.

She pays on the 8th of the month. The management comp dont. Sometimes its the 19th sometimes the 29th and any other day they feel like it. They didnt pay at all in Sept but sent 2 payments in Oct even the 2nd 1 was late!
But thats not the major thing...In November they phoned to say the boiler had gone & did we have someone or did we want them to use theirs. We said them but to tell us the quote first.....weeks went by no call just a rent invoice with £248 missing. We rang & said that wasnt on & not to do that again but didnt even get an apology let alone an invoice of works. Today 8 weeks later & after yet again chasing our rent from them for 2 weeks ( the tennent pays them on time) We receive another light rent invoice this time to the tune of £547.11!! 90% of our expected rental income missing!!! their response???
We told you & you said it was ok:mad: NO WE DIDNT AND STEALING ISNT OK!!!!

There refusing to give us copies of the invoice of works, they havent given us a copy of the contract or the gas check or the epc?? even though we have paid for some & begged for them all.

What can I do apart from changing my management company (obviously) They have taken money without my consent & given it to the richest plumber in the world.....thanks to me:mad:

Hope someone can help?

poppy10_2

There refusing to give us copies of the invoice of works, they havent given us a copy of the contract or the gas check or the epc?? even though we have paid for some & begged for them all.

You don't have to beg. They have most likely broken their contract with you by failing to provide these details, and you should kick them to the kerb and demand the money back, or you will sue.

pinkshoes

Write to them (recorded delivery) stating that you require detailed invoices of all money spent, and proof that permission was given, and if it can't be accounted for, it will have to be repayed within 7 days. Tell them that unless you receive either a copy of all the invoices and proof of permission, or a refund of <£insert amount> by <date in 7 days>, then you will be starting a claim with the small claims court to obtain all money owed.

Also state that as the rent is collected on the 8th of the month, you require it paying to you by the 15th, otherwise interest will be charged at a rate of 6%.

Keep it polite.

50plusabit

Write to them requesting copies of both invoices and a copy of the gas safety check, also request a computer print out of rent received (say this is for your accountant) you should get one with dates. This is possible from the rental program they use, as they have to send end of year statements.
Once you have this, if it shows tenant pays on time, them write again stating the rent comes in on .?.rd therefore you expect it to be transfered into your account with in 3 working days.
If this does not happen then look to give them notice and move your business to another LA. You should be looking to pay a commission rate of between 8-14% fully managed.

Trollfever

Dump them.

abledj

Thanks guys for the great advice :j

Hubby going in today so will see if it works......!

Will keep it posted

tbs624

Presumably this LA is not signed up to ARLA, NAEA, OEA schemes?

As the others have said, you need to formalise this and do it asap. Anyone can set up as an LA, and unfortunately some of them have shoddy work practices.

You should check direct with your tenants whether they have seen a copy of the gas safety certificate - if *you* don't have one, they might not either. As you'll know, it's a legal requirement for the tenant to be provided with a copy, and you as the LL should keep your own copies for at least 2 years afterwards.

Have you checked whether this LA has registered your tenant's deposit?
If they haven't done, you'll need to get it registered asap.
You may also like to add to your letter that if you don't receive a satisfactory response from then you will be notifying both the Trading Standards Dept and the Private Sector Rentals Team at the local Council. (LAs who treat their LL clients in this way also often fail the tenants too)

Once you have all the info you need (assuming they do what they are supposed to) as the others have said you need to get shut of them at the earliest opportunity.

Either go for a new LA who is at least signed up to one of the "professional" codes of conduct or join a LL association and self-manage if you live in the same area as your tenanted property.

abledj

UPDATE....

Hubby has asked for details of payments in & out of account....they said there going to charge us!

Cant have copies of anything until thurs???

pinkshoes

abledj wrote: »

UPDATE....

Hubby has asked for details of payments in & out of account....they said there going to charge us!

Cant have copies of anything until thurs???

They're going to CHARGE you for something that they should be showing you anyway?!?! I'm sure you have every right to see your own accounts.

All the owners of our block of flats get to see the accounts every year, and a breakdown of what all the money has been spent on!

sooz

abledj wrote: »

UPDATE....

Hubby has asked for details of payments in & out of account....they said there going to charge us!

Cant have copies of anything until thurs???

What is in the contract you signed with them? Really all of the issues you've brought up in your post should be covered in your contract. What is the termination period in your contract with them?

Find it, read it, & work out how to leave them asap (without being charged any more) & then find a better agent.