Letting Agent gas & elec antics

theartfullodger

Agent is, IMHO, a crook taking back-handers: That tells you all you need to know about them.

Fire the agent (after checking with contract between you & them you can without huge fees). Bunch of cowboys...

Cheers!

Artful

LooniesMum

theartfullodger wrote: »

Agent is, IMHO, a crook taking back-handers: That tells you all you need to know about them.

Fire the agent (after checking with contract between you & them you can without huge fees). Bunch of cowboys...

Because they have been advertising, showing prospective tenants around and doing the paperwork/screening of the tenant about to move in, they would certainly charge me a fee for the work done since the property went back on the market.

LooniesMum

Just in case this helps any tenants out there: -
http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/reports/unfair_contract_terms/oft356.pdf

Please see Office of Fair Trading's Guidance on Unfair Terms in Tenancy Agreements. Table 4.2 says

"The tenant should have the choice of supplier although he may be required to keep the landlord informed of any change and to return the account to the original supplier at the end of the tenancy." (page 68)

LooniesMum

An update. The LA is now asking me to sign the T&Cs but send a covering letter saying we do not want Spark Energy. I'm not convinced that that's enough - can you counteract a clause with a covering letter?

BitterAndTwisted

Why not just strike out the offending clause in the contract and then date and initial it as not agreed to?

LooniesMum

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Why not just strike out the offending clause in the contract and then date and initial it as not agreed to?

Was thinking of doing that in addition to a letter which spells it all out very clearly.

LooniesMum

Perhaps I should have a letter that the LA has to sign and return to me, stating that they will not instruct Spark or pass on any of my details to them?

LooniesMum

2nd update

LA is now going to issue the old version of their T&Cs for me to sign - there was nothing in the old one about energy suppliers.

I think I'm winning............:T

brightonman123

it's OP' property, NOT the R/A's- what a bleeding cheek of them to try and wangle an extra commission..

oldone_2

Hammyman wrote: »

In my tenancy agreement, I have two clauses. First is not changing the supplier without my agreement. Second is no slot meters.

Both of these are being done for the benefit of my tenants. Why? Firstly, slot meters are the most expensive form of payment. Secondly, my gran was conned by doorstep energy salesmen to the point she could have changed suppliers several times in a year. Thankfully British Gas realised what was going on and put a halt to it - 3 notifications to change being sent to BG in week at one point!

So because of this you are treating all your tenants as though they were senile relatives.

When I rented, I transferred energy suppliers from the old to new properties.This was because the supplier knew my track record, and I was aware of how they traded.

I'm sorry, but if a Landlord/Letting agent tried to tell me how to spend MY money, I would tell them to take a hike and see me in court.