"You're Out On Your Ear - Legal Action Letter's In The Post"

QuantumSuccess

I'm wondering if I should consider just moving as it unpleasant to be involved with such azzhole letting agents. Or are most private renting situations equally as horrible and disrespectful?

Meatballs

I'd had no issues so far with two private landlords.

Letting agent wasn't terrible, but they always try it on with 'cleaning' at the end of tenancy and some have ridiculous fees.

QuantumSuccess

I just had a look on the letting agents website. Two flats identical to mine, in the same building, have been sitting empty for a month. Both of them priced slightly less than my flat.

surreybased

Hi,

Why not look around a other flats - it isn't necessary to tolerate this appalling attitude. I would ask the LA if the LL is aware of tis. Good tenants are hard to find - If the LL is under finanical pressure then he maybe trying to recover extra costs. Sadly we are seeing non professional LL who entered the BTL market to make quick money and then treat tenants badly as the finances don't work out.
LL references should be required.

poolboy

I am a LL & find this sort of letting agent behaviour appalling.

I would ask which professional body they belong to (if any) & complain tgo them, they need to be struck off.

No worries re eviction, the above posts are correct.

Don't pay the penalty - just calculate the lost interest at say 5% & pay that as a gesture of goodwill.

Also, write to the agent & tell him you would like to continue with your quiet enjoyment of the property & that any futurte correspondence must be in writing.

Hope it helps, sorry but my letting agent is v professional.

neverdespairgirl

poolboy wrote: »

Don't pay the penalty - just calculate the lost interest at say 5% & pay that as a gesture of goodwill.

Why? He's been treated appallingly, why pay an extra penny?

pjcox2005

If you haven't sent a note to your landlord already, you should explaining the situation, the threats from the la re eviction and penalty which meant you've taken a look at the rental market.

State that as a result you notice you are paying above market rent (perhaps give the examples) and ask if a negotiation on rent downwards could take place.

QuantumSuccess

poolboy wrote: »

I am a LL & find this sort of letting agent behaviour appalling.

I would ask which professional body they belong to (if any) & complain tgo them, they need to be struck off.

No worries re eviction, the above posts are correct.

Don't pay the penalty - just calculate the lost interest at say 5% & pay that as a gesture of goodwill.

Also, write to the agent & tell him you would like to continue with your quiet enjoyment of the property & that any futurte correspondence must be in writing.

Hope it helps, sorry but my letting agent is v professional.

Thank you for this. I am quite a nervous person so I've been anxious ever since the letting agent suggested he could take me to court for a "pattern of late paying" due to me being 3 days late once in 2009 and once in 2008. But if he did that a judge would surely ask him why my tenancy has been renewed twice if I was such a problem tenant. They only just renewed it again for another year this past June!

I live in a rough and poor neighbourhood where I know just from talking to other people that rent arrears are almost expected. There's massive unemployment here. Ironically I remember a year or so ago a member of staff at the letting agency saying "saying thank God for tenants like you who are never even one month in arrears, unlike the majority." So that gives me the impression they are used to quite problematic tenants and have developed this horrible bullying heavy-handed attitude towards tenants as a result. I find it very hard to believe they would seriously consider taking me to court over a so-called pattern of slightly late rent payment. It doesn't make business sense - the property would sit empty and how many people in this economic climate are going to shell out £900 a month to live in a one-bed in a not so great area? I guess they just love bullying people.

QuantumSuccess

surreybased wrote: »

Hi,

Why not look around a other flats - it isn't necessary to tolerate this appalling attitude. I would ask the LA if the LL is aware of tis. Good tenants are hard to find - If the LL is under finanical pressure then he maybe trying to recover extra costs. Sadly we are seeing non professional LL who entered the BTL market to make quick money and then treat tenants badly as the finances don't work out.
LL references should be required.

I will look around at other flats. I guess legally I can't leave yet though as my current AST does not expire until next summer?

silverchair

I'd look around the other flats & move if I was you especially if its a 1 bed so I assume you dont have to take loads of furniture wth you