Dodgy Letting Agent

carole1705

My daughter rented a 3 bedroom house with 2 of her friends. The house wasnt in the best condition when they began renting. The bedrooms all had white carpets in them. When the LA came around and did a final inspection they pointed out that 2 of the bedroom carpets had make up stains and they were going to have to keep some of the bond the replace these. We heard nothing from the LA and they havent given the girls anything in writing.

So a week after the girls had left the property I went around to the LA asking when the bond was going to be returned. He said that he had spoken to the landlord and 1 carpet has to be replaced and the other carpet cleaned. He was in the process of getting quotes and the cheque would be ready on friday, so he made an appointment at 3pm for me to collect it.

When I arrived the LA said the price of carpet replacement and cleaning was £200, I asked him to break the cost down because the bond was split 3 ways and the cost would come out of each individuals portion.

He said the quote was just £200 when I again said well can you ring back up and get the costing broken down, he magicaly remembered it was £150 carpet replacement and £50 carpet cleaning. The girl in the office then said I thought it was £167 carpet replacement so he then went on to say ye thats right £167 and the cleaning £33. He then got the cheque book out wrote a cheque signed it and gave it to me. I pointed out that I would need in writing what the deductions were for to show the other girls. He told the girl in the office to type something on headed paper. He then left as he had a viewing booked at 3pm(supposedly).

I waited for the girl to type and give me the letter and when I deducted the carpet costs from the original bond total there was a discrepancy of £30. I pointed this out to the girl and out came the calculator and she agreed. She said you can wait for him to come back which was going to be 45 minutes.

I decided to take the cheque that I had and he could write a further cheque for £30 which I would collect when I next passed. I went to the bank and deposit the cheque in the girls joint account.

When I got back home I decided to phone the LA and I spoke to the girl, explained who I was and asked if the £30 cheque could be put in the post to me. She then said the manager was back and they had told him, but there had been a mistake, the cost for cleaning carpet was £66 not £33 so that was the £30 discrepancy.

I pointed out that the figure he told me orginally was £200 all in but she said he had made a mistake it was £230. They had just rung up the carpet cleaning people to comfirm this. I said I wanted receipts for the carpet replacement and cleaning. I told him the girls were not happy about being made to pay for carpets that were not in very good condition at the start a year ago. He said if they had a problem about it to take it up with the landlord.

Does this all sound dogdy to anyone else. Is it normal practice for the LA to issue bond cheques, I thought the bond money was in a protected scheme.

Can anyone tell me how the girls stand, because I am not happy with the situation and what to write a letter and complain but to whom.

Any ideas ?????:eek: