Problems with letting agents - cont!!

tizhimi

No you are not been unreasonable, I would follow Clutton's advice and maybe see if you can take control of your property back, legally, without paying any clause fees.

I would be billing them for the cheque bouncing (time spent sorting it out etc....)

Follow up the quotes that you get and go to the people the quotes are off directly and make sure they are not screwing you over!

BitterAndTwisted

Actually, I don't completely blame the agents in this situation. In my experience it's very, very unusual for any agents to pay for any work done on a landlord's property themselves. That's why they're called agents after all, they're working on your behalf not for you or you for them. At least that's my experience in commercial property management. Any expenses incurred are purely on the LL's behalf and before any contractors are paid, the funds are remitted by the LL to do so but on the other hand any expenses are costed and quoted for and agreed by the LL before anything is done. What work have they carried out on the property and why weren't you consulted before it was done?

clutton_2

now we get a totally different picture .... you surely cannot expect an agent to pay for your repairs out of their money can you ?

If they got a hint that you might not pay the repairs bill, i, as an agent, as well as a LL, would probably have done the same thing by way of cancelling the cheque.

what are the sums involved - rent ? cost of repairs ?

BitterAndTwisted

It's confusing: the OP described the agent charging unagreed fees and now it's turned into reimbursable expenses. I wonder if it's both?

AlwaysHappy

Hi there, can see I have caused some confusion - so I apologise for that. The work that needed doing was damp-proof course and decoration. I was given quotes over the phone which I agreed, but also asked for them to be sent to me.(still waiting). I next get a phonecall to say they are being chased for payment so I said that I hadn't realised, would they send me the copies of the quotes as I'd requested and the invoices from the contractors and I would pay them. Instead, I got a typed note with an amount a few hundred more than I had agreed, still no quotes or invoices. This came last Saturday, I phoned on Monday and asked for the invoices as the figures didn't tie up and was told they would send them - still waiting, and then they cancel my rent cheque. Bearing in mind I only got the bill last saturday and spoke to them on Monday I hardly think I have been dragging my feet. I also asked for the guarantee of the damp proof to be sent to me which hasn't arrived. I was (incorrectly) advised by my bank that the cheque had been retd for lack of funds which sent me into a spin, it has arrived today and just says payment stopped. I have never said I wouldn't pay them, I have merely asked for the original invoices. I realise this is to be paid and also realise that it isn't up to them, but it seems harsh to stop payment when I have only requested confirmation of amounts owing as they aren't as agreed. Hope that makes sense, stress causes me to waffle!

BitterAndTwisted

OK, so you agreed to the work being done in principle but you wanted to see quotes which they have not furnished you with and now they claim they've engaged builders to carry it out and won't supply you with any quotes or original invoices. Have you been to visit property? This is highly suggestive that the work has not been carried out at all and they need to prove that it has been done and properly at that. In the normal course of events I wouldn't expect or allow agents to carry out this sort of project on my behalf. Did you think this was normal practice?

clutton_2

agents will sometimes put a "mark-up" on repair bills from contractors ...... maybe this is why they dont want you to see the original bill

BitterAndTwisted

I think a modest mark-up is reasonable. They have to do all the leg-work in getting quotes, instructing the contractors and supervising the works, this all costs time and therefore money. Unless someone at the agency got his bodger brother-in-law or someone to do it cash-in-hand. This would seem like the most likely scenario. I'd want to inspect the work as well as inspecting the paper-work.

tizhimi

I don't think a mark up is acceptable, they aught to state their fee costings outright, I'm an event manager and if I did that i'd be in trouble

AlwaysHappy

I think this is exactly what has gone on, personally, I think they must have put a mark up on the original quotes given (I have spoken with trading standards on friday who were surprised how high the quote was), this is why they have never been forthcoming, and now, they have again put a mark up on the final bill - Of course, a reasonable fee would have been fine but a) not mentioned in my contract with them b)not mentioned up front to me and c)figures adjusted to suit what they want to take. If it had all been honest, when they sent me the invoice it would have clearly laid out their fees. I think I am going to write to them to ask for invoices and quotes and guarantee for the damp proof by return of post. Then not sure which way to go.