Possible new tenants to view property which you are renting?

pinkteapot

I like their website:

"Quality Property Management Begins With A Quality Tenant"

"We Care!"

Also, this isn't correct, is it?

"If you wish to leave at the end of the first six months then we need to receive your written notice at least one month before the end of the term."

clutton_2

tenants do not need to give any notice if they plan to leave on the last day of the fixed terms.. but it is sensible to give as much notice as possible this enables the agent/LL to do a pre-check out visit to highlight what might need doing to fulfil the fial inventory inspection and to allow the tenant sufficient time to do the cleaning so that s/he gets their deposit back

tenants who walk out on the last day with little discussion may well be shooting themselves in the foot...

G_M

Your in-laws must not stay a single day beyond the 6 months - if they do they will create a periodic tenancy and then will need to give at least one (and probobly just short of two) months notice, or pay rent in liue.

They can and should change the locks.

They can refuse all viewings if they wish.

They can and should insist on being present at any agreed viewing, or inspection.

Deductions cannot be made from the deposit for thwarted viewings. Deductions can only be made for rent owed, damage done, items missing, or cleaning needed.

To prove damage or cleaning, there needs to have been a check-in inventory listing the items present, and their condition, at the start of the tenancy. Without this, the LL/agent cannot prove that anything is missing, damaged during tenancy, or dirtier than at the start.

It you disagree with any deposit deduction, the deposit protection scheme has an arbitration process. Don't wait, check which scheme is used (don't take the agent's word - check direct with each scheme to identify the correct one!), and look up their arbitration process.

The agents are taking the p*ss and will clearly continue to do so. You need to be prepared and understand your rights, and the processes involved.

Shelter is a useful website.

Or as I said before, the alternative is to roll over and let these agents do whatever they want - but for the sake of your in-laws AND other future tenants, agents like these should not be allowed to get away with it.

Cissi

I can't see whether this has been mentioned anywhere on this thread but has the deposit been duly protected? Oooooh how I'd love to hear that it hasn't, and see OP's in-laws sue for 3x...

sexki11en

From their website!

Our business foundation is Customer Service. Residential letting has had a good deal of bad press over the years and TV shows depicting “what can go wrong” do not help the image. Letting is unregulated - something we disagree with. Basically, anyone can decide to become a letting agent overnight! Since 1989 we have seen many, many agents come and go. Often with devastating consequences.

In reality, residential letting requires a great deal of hard work, effective communication, honesty and an understanding that, for each property managed, there are TWO Customers; the Landlord and the Tenant.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

OP you need to make your In Laws stand their ground. If they let the LA get away with it then they will. Good luck! Please keep us updated.

SK x

JohanDij

Yes, I do believe it's protected as we called the company that took care of that and they say it is.

They explained something about there being 3 methods, some of them insurance based in which the money is retained by the LL and I think that is what they have?

I myself don't understand much about that.

Yesterday there was a viewing (another did not show up) and they did apply. Even though the LA reprensative had said they would then cancel all others he called today saying that before they have some papers they are waiting for, they can't (suprise!)

Today the pre-inspection went well and the guy said he was pleased.

My mother in law yesterday was a nervous wreck and unable to go to work.

I took some pictures of the lock:

http://i1041.photobucket.com/albums/b412/Johandij/Picture013a.jpg
http://i1041.photobucket.com/albums/b412/Johandij/Picture014.jpg

And will be taking the pictures to homebase to see if they can help me getting the right one (yesterday I couldn't find similar)

G_M

JohanDij wrote: »

Yes, I do believe it's protected as we called the company that took care of that and they say it is.

They explained something about there being 3 methods, some of them insurance based in which the money is retained by the LL and I think that is what they have?

By 'the company' do you mean the letting agent or the deposit protect scheme. The fact that they explained about the 3 methods makes me suspect the agency. There are 3 different schemes, but if you called one of them they'd be unlikely to explain about the others!

Do NOT take the word of the agents at face value.
The three approved schemes are:

• Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
• MyDeposits
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)

Full details and web links to them + contact details are here.

WHICH SCHEME ARE THEY USING? Contact the scheme direct to check. If you are not sure, contact all 3 schemes and ask each to check if they hold your in-laws deposit for the appropriate address.

Best thing to do with the lock is to find a time when someone can stay in the house. Unscrew the lock and take it to homebase or a locksmith (leaving someone in the house to guard the door!).

clutton_2

""ask each to check if they hold your in-laws deposit for the appropriate address."

the schemes will not release info to a third party who is not the LL/LA or the tenant - Data protection and all that... you could "pretend" to be your inlaw on the phone..........




i never said that (lol)

tbs624

JohanDij wrote: »

I took some pictures of the lock:

http://i1041.photobucket.com/albums/b412/Johandij/Picture013a.jpg
http://i1041.photobucket.com/albums/b412/Johandij/Picture014.jpg

And will be taking the pictures to homebase to see if they can help me getting the right one (yesterday I couldn't find similar)

Physically take the lock barrel out of the door and cart it with you to the DY sheds/local locksmith - inlaws remain at home guarding the property!

Edit :btw you may want to remove the LAs name from your previous post. A bit of ego surfing on their part would alert them to the thread and your discussions/plans.

JohanDij

G_M wrote: »

By 'the company' do you mean the letting agent or the deposit protect scheme. The fact that they explained about the 3 methods makes me suspect the agency. There are 3 different schemes, but if you called one of them they'd be unlikely to explain about the others!

Do NOT take the word of the agents at face value.


The three approved schemes are:

• Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
• MyDeposits
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)

Full details and web links to them + contact details are here.

WHICH SCHEME ARE THEY USING? Contact the scheme direct to check. If you are not sure, contact all 3 schemes and ask each to check if they hold your in-laws deposit for the appropriate address.

Best thing to do with the lock is to find a time when someone can stay in the house. Unscrew the lock and take it to homebase or a locksmith (leaving someone in the house to guard the door!).

The scheme is with someone called:

Tenant Deposit Solutions Limited

On their website we can check and we did but it gives us this message:

my|deposits are unable to find a deposit protection with the details you provided.

The protection may not have been uploaded yet or the deposit may be protected with another scheme.

Please contact your agent/landlord for details. You can download the
Tenancy Deposit Protection Overview document here
my|deposits are unable to find a deposit protection with the details you provided.

The protection may not have been uploaded yet or the deposit may be protected with another scheme.

Please contact your agent/landlord for details.


A bit confused now??