Paid previous tenant for furniture but I think he has taken it with him

llh189

I am moving in to a new rented place, the old tenant on the viewings mentioned he was moving in with girlfriend and was getting rid of all most of his stuff.

We agreed I would buy some bedroom furniture from him, I paid by chq and told the agent who manages the property. They said it was a private arrangement which is fair enough. When I filled in my application they took both a next of kin details and a forwarding address for post and return of deposit chq.

So I am now concerned that the previous tenant has cashed my chq but hasn't left the furniture. I can check on Tuesday with the agent but all weekend it has been doing my head in.

I paid £375 all together, I guess my question is, on Tuesday if the agents confirm that nothing has been left, can I call the police. They did check out on Thursday, I move in in two weeks and the agent who did the check out took a long weekend break, so when I phoned on Friday he was on holiday.

I am guessing if the items aren't there it is either theft or deception, I can get a copy of the chq from my bank and they could get he details from the letting agent, would the Police then contact him.

I am guessing that I would have to sue him through the small claims court for my cash, which I don't have a problem with, would the Police supply me with his details?

I know I get put out of my misery on Tuesday but it would be nice to know what my options are, it would kind of put my mind at rest.

I do have his mobile number and exchange of text messages regarding the arrangement. I haven't phoned him yet as I want to wait until Tuesday.

Thanks

Lisa

azkaban420

Hi, I'd say there's no point stressing (I know it's easier said than done) unless you actually find out on Tuesday what the situation is. If you find the stuff is there, you'll have harboured all that stress for nothing. Have a look on Tuesday, and if the stuff's not there, then check out your options. If you've paid the agent, they should be involved in chasing up if the furniture is missing.

Az

llh189

Thanks Az!

it is easier said than done waiting until Tuesday :-)

The agent has already said that it was a private arrangement and any issues with the purchase of stuff between tenants and that they wouldn't get involved, I am guessing though that they would have a responsibility to talk to the police!

PasturesNew

To get it in perspective, how much and what items are we talking about here?

azkaban420

PasturesNew, Op mentioned paying £375?

Az

PasturesNew

azkaban420 wrote: »

PasturesNew, Op mentioned paying £375?

Az

Ah, I assumed that was for rent too.

When I furnish my whole next house, I hope the whole lot, new, doesn't come much different to that!

llh189

He had some handmade bedroom furniture, so two chest of drawers, two matching bedside cabinets and one bedside cabinet in the spare room.

I know it seems a lot, but it is less than six months old, hand made and of a very good quality!

The plan was that it will last for ages and ages, as I currently have none.

I have no time left off from work to take any furniture deliveries, my car is too small to even transport flat packed furniture and being a single girl, most flat pack stuff says it take two people to put together.

However, £375 is still what I paid, if it furnished the whole house and he still took the stuff - he still took the stuff so problem is still the same.

chris_m

What makes you think that he hasn't left it?

marmitequeen

can you not just text him and check it's there? He's moved out so it will be there. It WILL. x

llh189

In the lead up to me saying yes to buying the furniture, he was quite chatty, texting wise, always reply immediately to text messages, after I popped around with the chq, I had cause to text him about something else - he never replied, it was a question about keys, that would warrant a definite answer, even if it was a polite no.

He also said that in the porch there was a shoe rack that he'd leave for me, as it was a bit knackered and just another thing to move / store and if he was going to bin it, he'd prefer to leave it for me if I wanted it! I said yes to shoe rack!

After he moved out and after the no reply to my chatty text, I popped round and look through the porch window - no shoe rack! The two things together just got me thinking, also when I rang to check if if had left the stuff, his check out had been done with one of the letting agents that I have had no dealings with whatsoever, so was unlikely to know that I had bought some furniture and yet after check out he hadn't mentioned it to either of the women that work there, both of which had dealt with me, not even in a passing sort of way. Clearing stuff from houses after tenants move must be a bit of a nightmare for agents, so I would have thought the check out agent would have at least mentioned it, in case it was just laziness on the part of the tenant, bluffing that he'd sold it on when in actual fact he'd just dumped the stuff.

If I text, what would I say and what if he doesn't get back in touch, by Tuesday I'll be a right worry wort!

wheeliebin_2

I'm afraid that the agent has nothing to do with it (apart from being a witness to whether the tenant left particular stuff).

Paying by cheque was a good move as it is evidence you paid him. How long ago did you pay him ? Maybe you can still cancel the cheque ?