Landlord unhappy with property management company

michymo

I have a property rented out through a property management company who we pay monthly to "manage" the property. Most recent tenants have just moved out and I have visited the property just to check up on things only to discover many rooms have been redecorated without our consent and items of our property missing.

On speaking to the PM company they carried out a handback inventory and did not notice any of these items! They have messed up and said sorry. They have transferred half of the deposit that was on our property to another as the tenant moved to another of their properties, so are holding the other half of the deposit for us to put towards redecorating.

While at the property I received a bill in my name from an energy supply company for the period when we left the property to when the PM managed to let it and have tenants move in. The bill is for £586 - absolutely ridiculous as the property was empty! I have asked for meter readings, they have ones from when the tenants moved in but not from when we handed them over the keys of the property 3 months previously. I am organised but not so that I have electricity bills from 2 years ago so do not have our moveout meter readings.

I asked the PM company for quotes 3 weeks ago to have work done redecorating the property and am STILL waiting.

In short, this is my first experience with PM companies and am far from impressed with the treatment. Is there anything I can do or any regulatory body I can complain to?

Any advice would be so greatly appreciated. Thanks

Fire_Fox

Have you communicated any of this in writing by recorded delivery? Are the letting agents a member of any professional body?

michymo

I have put everything for them in writing and had a fairly poor reply, I have checked their website and they do not list being members of any professional body. They are well known in the area and have been in business for over 30 years so I thought it would be ok, wasn't I worng!

Fire_Fox

Then write again asking for a proper response.

property.advert

I guess it is a lesson learned that even though they were supposed to be working for you, they don't really give a damn.

Get out your contract. Mismatches in inventory are easy to spot and you should have provided the inward inventory anyway, which they would have used to compile their inward for the tenant.

Normally, inward inventories cover utilities. You should have bills going back over 2 years if you are renting out properties. That said, your electricity suppliers must have details of the last bill you paid.

The deposit given is for your property and cannot be refunded until you sign off on the the checkout. They cannot transfer deposits.

If they were on full management, then they should have visited the property at least every 6 months and perhaps every 3 months to perform routine checks. This would have highlighted any unauthorised alterations, including decorating.

You need to look at your contract, also get a copy of the contract they gave their tenants and then make sure you understand all the clauses. You can then write your letter, requesting what you want.

I would ask for:

Payment for the redecoration I had undertaken. You do not need to wait for them.
Full payment of the outstanding utility charges - get your numbers from the supplier.
Loss of rent whilst you make good on the property.
A refund of their fees and / or charge them for your time.
Give them a reasonable but short time to pay up or off to court you go.