Letting agent closing down - about to pay lots of cash - should I run for the hills?

poppysarah

Ring companies house.

ArchThorpe

poppysarah wrote: »

Ring companies house.

Thanks PoppySarah. What should I ask them?

ArchThorpe

After digging a bit deeper, it seems that it was companies house that was going to strike them off, but that an objection was raised so the strike-off is cancelled.

I wonder if it is just an automatic thing because the company is dormant.

EDIT: Actually I mis-read the date. That form was from last year. There was a strike-off planned for mid-december 2009, which was then cancelled in nov 2009. There is no a new strike-off planned, with no indication of a cancellation yet.

ArchThorpe

Just called companies house and, as far as they know, the strike-off will occur this time as there have been no objections.

ArchThorpe

Well, I managed to make contact with the LL today. I went to the builder's house (luckily lives next door) and he kindly phoned him for me.

When I explained that it seemed the LA could be dissolved within a week, he was clearly shocked.

He was however, very supportive, and completely agreed that I shouldn't hand money over until it was clarified by the LA. In fact, I got the impression, that the LL wasn't demanding that it be paid in cash at all (which is what the LA had said).

It turns out that the LA owes him money, having not handed some money over from the previous tenants, so he is certainly cautious of them.

I should have met with the LA this evening, but just wanted to have some time to think after speaking with the LL, so I will call them tomorrow instead.

Any thoughts on how to approach this with the LA would be appreciated.

Thanks for all the help so far.

RAS

Don't approach them until your potential landlord has dealt with them and confirmed that they are still acting for him.

I suspect they may not be by the end of the week, one way or another.

olly300

Make sure the LL knows you are interested in the house i.e. give him your details and tell him to contact you when he's sorted out any issues with the LA.

ArchThorpe

olly300 wrote: »

Make sure the LL knows you are interested in the house i.e. give him your details and tell him to contact you when he's sorted out any issues with the LA.

Yes, I tried to hammer this point home to him, that we are very keen on the house but just concerned about handing money to the LA. He seemed to completely understand.

ArchThorpe

RAS wrote: »

Don't approach them until your potential landlord has dealt with them and confirmed that they are still acting for him.

I suspect they may not be by the end of the week, one way or another.

I would have preferred that he speak to them first, but he seems keen for me to speak with them. He seemed to suggest that this was because he felt tied to them due to the fact that they had introduced me as a tenant and was hoping that this would be sorted out.