Lancashire Letting Agency.

messimoney

My sis in law recently rented a property from a letting agent, she paid in total £1000, half was bond half was months rent in advance.

The house was in a pretty poor condition but she agreed with the agents she would decorate if they would fit new carpets.

New carpets were fitted, on top of the old ones! EWW!!

A few days before she was due to leave her old house she got the keys to the new place so in she went ready start decorating.

First off, there was no gas meter in. As she started to strip the walls, plaster was falling off, it was so wet with damp the walls from floor to ceiling were literally like cotton wool!! IN EVERY ROOM!!

She got onto the letting agent who said they would come and have a look, she told them it was so bad she wanted her money back so she could find something else, given that it was so bad and it would would take so long to put right she would need somewhere else anyway.

They told her no way was she getting her money back. A few days later a damp proof specialist came out to inspect it. Apparently he didnt really know what he was doing, turns out he was the manager of the letting agency and not a damp proof specialist at all!!

By the time moving day came my sis in law had already found alternative living arrangements for herself and her children, squeezing in with the in laws. She drove past the house and noticed a work van and the front door open, she stopped and called in the see the front door lock had been bust through and two "cowboys" stripping the plaster off the wall. Have to remember here she has paid rent in advance and the house is now hers so technically isnt this breaking and entering?? Locks have now also been changed and the letting agent hasnt even contacted her, so for all they know now, she and her children are homeless!!!

She wrote off to the letting agent and adviced she wants a full refund, and they have 14 days to do so.

Does anyone else know what else she could possibly do if she has no response in the 14 days?

Thanks

Fire_Fox

I am unclear as to whether the tenancy was terminated by mutual agreement or formally surrendered, how did the letting agents know your sister had decided not to take occupation/ moved out? Why was she decorating before moving day, had the AST commenced? Your sister needs to write to the landlord NOT the letting agency as she is contracted to the landlord. Next step after a 'letter before action' is to go to the small claims court.

messimoney

sorry for confusion, letting agency didnt know she had found elsewhere to live, as far as they were concerned she was due to move in when her old tenency ended on the saturday. They have in effect made her homeless. She was given the keys to the new place on the Wednesday before, to get a head start decorating. Letting agents WONT give her the landlords details, its managed by the agents.

DVardysShadow

First off a letter to the agent demanding the LL's address. At this stage, does not matter if there is no reply, just keep a copy to start a paper trail. Second, get a witness around to the house to confirm that the work is in progress and the date, to show that the tenancy is frustrated.