Dodgy Estate Agent

tbs624

Sam - you need to take control here, and cover your own back. Get onto the HB/LHA dept and let them know that you are concerned that there are irregularities with a claim for LHA for your property.

Write to the LA and tell him that you want an up to date rent statement from him within 3 working days, and written confirmation of what has been done with any tenancy depoist that has been paid to him. Keep a copy.

If you are going to let property you need to be "on the ball" - never leave everything entirely up to an LA. Join a national LL association or a local affiliated one: you can offset the fees against tax, & get insurance premium discounts etc, plus valuable support for this type of scenario, inlcuding how to properly serve notice on any non-paying tenants.

Never let an LA dictate to you how they will deal with your property.

Drea

Wait, was this tenant paying rent before and has only now stopped paying rent while he is waiting for his claim to be sorted out?

If so, the Council do take a good few months to pay any money to anyone.

Unless I'm just totally confused?

socrates

Drea wrote: »

Wait, was this tenant paying rent before and has only now stopped paying rent while he is waiting for his claim to be sorted out?

If so, the Council do take a good few months to pay any money to anyone.

Unless I'm just totally confused?

Drea - in this day and age - there is no need for a claim to take months.

The tenant is either entitled or not entitled and payments can be issued more or less immediately in most cases.

There have not been any payments made full stop!

There is a more sinister story behind this situation - we will eventually find out.

The agent definitely has a hand in matters.

tbs624

Drea wrote: »

Wait, was this tenant paying rent before and has only now stopped paying rent while he is waiting for his claim to be sorted out?

Hi Drea. If you look back, the OP says the let began in April this year and that no rent has been paid to him/her for 2 months. This means that possibly (a) the T has paid the LA who has not passed it on (b) the T has chosen not to pay or (c) there is a delay because of the application for LHA. It's the fact that the OP does not appear to have had proper ongoing communication from the LA, and that when s/he has it sounds as though the LA and or T are conniving on the rent figures for that LHA claim that is sounding alarm bells.

Drea

socrates wrote: »

Drea - in this day and age - there is no need for a claim to take months.

The tenant is either entitled or not entitled and payments can be issued more or less immediately in most cases.

There have not been any payments made full stop!

There is a more sinister story behind this situation - we will eventually find out.

The agent definitely has a hand in matters.

But, in this day and age, a claim does take months

Yes I agree something dodgy is going on but just wanted to let the OP know that a claim for housing benefit really does take a while.

theartfullodger

I'd sack the agent & deal with the tenant/council from now on direct.

Agent if behaving as described has broken too many rules & ain't to be trusted.

Cheers!

Lodger

HelenYorkshire

Drea wrote: »

But, in this day and age, a claim does take months

Yes I agree something dodgy is going on but just wanted to let the OP know that a claim for housing benefit really does take a while.

I can second this - it really can take weeks and weeks.

BUT there is no excuse for lack of communication!

I'm no expert, but I think Council department would be my first port of call - at least then you can establish whether any payments have been made. You can also request LHA payments to be made directly to you as the LL.

Then you can try to address the actual rent amount. I would get rid of the agent - why make up a rent?!?! Especially when you told them what you wanted :mad: I can't think of any good reason to do that, it's either a load of balls or fraud.

Lastly - good on you for what you said about trying to help someone in distress, with good value rent etc - you're a star and I'm so sorry you may be being taken advantage of. :beer:

socrates

Drea wrote: »

But, in this day and age, a claim does take months

Yes I agree something dodgy is going on but just wanted to let the OP know that a claim for housing benefit really does take a while.

Drea I am in and out of benefit offices on a very regular basis - a claim for LHA - will get a decision on the day as long as you (the tenant) have all your paperwork - trust me.

They have computers that cross reference - and scanned documents relating to the tenant at their fingertips.

There are NO excuses for this Letting Agent or tenant