Bad Rental Experience

sooz

:eek: didn't realise when I first saw this post that you'd already had the keys & moved some stuff in, & then another was tenant signed up & moved in.



In which case you had already moved in, & what the agents (both I guess?) did amounts to an illegal eviction. Are the agents that you used members of ARLA? Make a formal written complaint about them. Then I'd start by talking to the private housing officer of your local council.

What happened between day T+1 and T+3?

t1gger

that is completely outrageous! And a little funny!

andy20

sooz wrote: »

:eek: didn't realise when I first saw this post that you'd already had the keys & moved some stuff in, & then another was tenant signed up & moved in.



In which case you had already moved in, & what the agents (both I guess?) did amounts to an illegal eviction. Are the agents that you used members of ARLA? Make a formal written complaint about them. Then I'd start by talking to the private housing officer of your local council.

What happened between day T+1 and T+3?

How would I find out if they are a member of ARLA? The person I dealt with was MNAEA accredited if that means anything?

Between T+1 and T+3 I was in limbo since the letting agent was closed at the weekend.

poppysocks1

As someone that has rented many different properties over the years and had to move for various reasons, I would be absolutely livid if I was in your situation, as it takes time and effort with finding somewhere to live, and to have found somewhere, signed agreements in readiness to move in then find that someone else was there is awful.

Sorry if missed it but why did 2 contracts get signed by 2 different people - was it an "oversight" of the letting agent? EDIT - just noticed there were 2 letting agents involved.

I would definately be putting in a big complaint regarding this. Good luck!

Jane_Cane

horrorhag wrote: »

WOW that is S**T! i would write a little letter to my local newspaper.....

^^ do this to save others from the same fate, find somewhere else to rent, and move on.

sooz

andy20 wrote: »

How would I find out if they are a member of ARLA? The person I dealt with was MNAEA accredited if that means anything?

Between T+1 and T+3 I was in limbo since the letting agent was closed at the weekend.

did you move any more stuff in? Did you stay at the property?

I know the agency was closed, but at this point I would have called the police! Someone had entered your property illegally (as far as you knew) & left things there....sort of reverse burglary . Not sure if the police would do anything -do they for burglaries any more either? - but atleast then you'd have a crime number, & they probably would have suggested you change the locks asap.

had to google the acronym, it's not one I've heard of before (found it NAEA with an M infront!). Yes, I'd complain to them, to ARLA if the agency themselves are members (look at the agency website, that should tell you)

RainMaker_2

andy20 wrote: »

There was no verbal agreement, I have everything in writing and a signed contract.

I understand that you've signed the contract (Tenancy agreement), but did the landlord ? Do you have a Tenancy agreement with the LL's signature on it ? It makes a BIG difference.

The LL may well have instructed 2 x agents, but I doubt very much that the LL would have signed 2 x Tenancy agreements ! My guess is that one (and only one) was ever signed by him. Question is....for which which Tenant ?

franklee

andy20, Right it's clear as day the tenancy started! So you were evicted illegally. You could sue for considerable compensation. May I suggest you get some more professional help? I would try a solicitor specialising in landlord and tenant law such as Tessa http://landlordlaw.blogspot.com/search?q= or Paimsnith http://www.painsmith.co.uk/. If you email them with all the details dates/key handover/visits/leaving your possessions/agency involved/what ws signed by who/all payments you made just like you explained above. Ask them for a quote and chance of success and you will I am certain be given a realistic idea of this.

You could speak to Shelter or your council tenancy relations officer too, see what they say.

I hope you pursue this, it's just not on.

RainMaker_2

franklee wrote: »

andy20, Right it's clear as day the tenancy started!

Not so sir.

tbs624

andy20 wrote: »

How would I find out if they are a member of ARLA? The person I dealt with was MNAEA accredited if that means anything?

Well, the acronym means Member of the National Association of Estate Agents - to qualify for Membership they have to pass the NAEA Technical Award which has 4 modules, and they are supposed to undertake 12 hours of CPD every year. The way it's been phrased could just mean that they've only completed one of the modules.

There are 2 tech awards for residential property -

SALE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
1) Health and safety, security and general law
2) Law relating to residential property sales
3) Practice relating to residential property sales
4) Property appraisal and basic building construction

RESIDENTIAL LETTING AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
1) Health and safety, security and general law
2) Legal aspects of letting and management
3) Residential property letting practice
4) Residential property management practice

Clearly if they passed the Tech Award they've forgotten it all.

I would contact the NAEA with full details of how you have been treated ( [EMAIL="compliance@naea.co.uk"]compliance@naea.co.uk [/EMAIL]) and ask for their comments, & send a copy to the local Trading Standards Office and to your local tenancy Relations Officer (part of the Council's private sector rentals team).

You can check whether they are members of ARLA here

Seek advice from Shelter 0808 800 4444, and from Community Legal Services - they can give you info on a local solicitor with relevant experience.

The way you have been treated is appalling.