Need Help With Agency

Jonj1611

I think I need to put this into context.

I want to pay my rent, I still want to live in the same house, I like living here

At no point will I stop paying the rent, I just need to know who I should be paying the rent too

Regards
Jon

Jonj1611

Thanks BitterandTwisted, your comments have made me feel at ease, I must admit after reading shopaholics post, I was getting worried!

Jon

Wee_Willy_Harris

Jonj1611 wrote: »

I think I need to put this into context.

I want to pay my rent, I still want to live in the same house, I like living here

At no point will I stop paying the rent, I just need to know who I should be paying the rent too

Regards
Jon

In plain English?

The agent is history. Even if they DID serve notice (unlikely) the Landlord has the power to withdraw. On the other hand, if you upset the LL, he has the authority to serve notice and, assuming legal, no-one else can withraw it over him.

Look after your landlord is my advice.

Jonj1611

Cheers Wee Willy Harris, I will do

Jon

Wee_Willy_Harris

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

You might have loved every minute of your job but you appear to have failed to have learned everything which is necessary to be a decent agent.

You're in danger of frightening the OP rigid with your rather unhelpful and erroneous advice. The situation as described by the OP is perfectly straightforward and easy to resolve and scare-stories about hypothetic situations really aren't necessary here

I can only assume that G51 worked in Scotland as little of the advice given seems applicable to English LL/T legislation.

G51shopaholic

If the landord has not received any of the rent then he is entitled to take back his property from the Agent.

However they've gone bust.

The comment I made re locks is valid. Most agents keep copies of keys for emergency access & safety checks.

So given the circumstances the 1st thing I'd do would be to change my locks and advise the landlords son that you've done so on the grounds of security of the tenants positions.

I live in Scotland and all Landlords have to be registered as well as all the Agents. The Agents have to be fit to run a company.

Obviously there is more to this than jonj1611 realised and I didn't mean to scare, but better to cover all the potential pit falls and keep him on the right side of things and avoid getting shafted!

G_M

There is good advice in the posts above (though a couple of dodgy ones too - LL does NOT have to be registered). To sum up:

1) You pay who the LL tells you to pay, the agent is just acting on the LL's behalf.
2) stop paying the agent (who is trying to maximise income before going bust - but put your rent in a separate account so you can show you are willing to pay rent)
3) Get instruction from the LL in writing before paying anyone else. Are you sure the 'son' is in fact the son? If he gives you new bank details, how will you know it is the LL's account? Check!
4) Write to the LL (c/o the UK address which must be on the contract though might still be the agency) requesting instructions - copy the son if you know his address as the agency might not pass on the letter
5) If you are paying rent direct to an overseas LL you must either deduct tax or get dispensation from the taxman - read this here. Mad but true.

Wee_Willy_Harris

G51shopaholic wrote: »

I live in Scotland

Bingo!

There are many subtle (and not so subtle) difference between many aspects of housing law in Scotland and England/Wales. In many ways, I think the Scottish system tends to be more progressive, but that is just an opinion. Either way, Scottish legislation does not always apply to England/Wales. Of course, I'm assuming the OP is in England too!

Jonj1611

Yes, in England

Landlord lives in Cyprus.

Jon

Wee_Willy_Harris

Jonj1611 wrote: »

Yes, in England

Landlord lives in Cyprus.

Jon

As long as you have an address for him in England where notices can be served, it'll be OK. Just ask for the LLs instructions in writing. Sounds like you are just getting caught in the crossfire between landlord and agent.