Allowing letting agency around for viewings

edwardmluk

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I would phrase your letter offering them those time-slots but that you still want a prior written request from them.

does an email count? They claimed to email me before but I didn't receive it.

BitterAndTwisted

Well, there's your answer. Personally, I would never rely on emails for important or official communication and would not want to receive same either. Sending an email, or thinking you've sent it, does not guarantee that it will be read or understood. "Read receipts" cannot be supported in a court of law either, should it ever come to that.

Write a letter and ask that the agents put their requests for viewings in the same way. Confirm that you will not decline their requests unreasonably but obviously will need a little time to make arrangements with the other residents for somebody to be present. That way, you won't be inundated with requests giving you only an hour or two's notice.

I can feel a second letter coming on so you can come back and ask for the wording if you like once you hear back from these ignorant, incompetent and bullying agents.

edwardmluk

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I can feel a second letter coming on so you can come back and ask for the wording if you like once you hear back from these ignorant, incompetent and bullying agents.

Couldn't have put it better myself. Well the boss (the one who causes all the issues) was meant to come around tonight with our new contract and a key to replace one that got broken in the lock not too long ago but that hasn't happened.

Also, our back door is a upvc door with a Euro-lock. The key was stuck in it and I finally pulled it out but its all gunked up with mould and now it won't unlock because all the pins are stuck down. I told the agency today but they haven't been around. How urgent is it? I figure as its one of the two exits of the house its pretty urgent seeing as its a fire exit.

When we've had a response about the viewings, I'll come back here. Oh and one housemate is not keen for replacing the locks as they reckon it'll "only end badly for us", which I sort of see their point.

edwardmluk

We've decided not to change the locks. I can't convince the other housemates to do it. However on the agency's site they did have some associations listed. Association of Company Registration Agents (ACRA) and National Landlord Association (NLA). I contacted both of these in order to get some help with the issues and neither had heard of the company. ACRA asked them to remove their logo from the agency's site, and the NLA are still investigating. Since then the ACRA logo has been removed and replaced with a the Landlord Accreditation Wales' (LAW) logo. I emailed LAW last night and today they replied saying they too had not heard of the company and were asking them to remove their logo. So it looks like they're commiting fraud by using these trusted associations to better their image.

RAS

get hold of Trading Standards and check out whether they have used these logos in advertisements. if so, contact Advertising Standards as well.

Do they use any of these logos on letter head/their office?

tbs624

edwardmluk wrote: »

We've decided not to change the locks. I can't convince the other housemates to do it. However on the agency's site they did have some associations listed. Association of Company Registration Agents (ACRA) and National Landlord Association (NLA). I contacted both of these in order to get some help with the issues and neither had heard of the company. ACRA asked them to remove their logo from the agency's site, and the NLA are still investigating. Since then the ACRA logo has been removed and replaced with a the Landlord Accreditation Wales' (LAW) logo. I emailed LAW last night and today they replied saying they too had not heard of the company and were asking them to remove their logo. So it looks like they're commiting fraud by using these trusted associations to better their image.

See post 207 here for a letting agent who ended up in court over similar issues. This is why Ts should never take it for granted that an LA *is* signed up to everything shown on their letterheads/windows etc.

edwardmluk

Update. Trading standards have been to SWL. I don't know what was said as trading standards haven't contacted me. Don't even know if they will. I had a call from SWL manager yesterday saying he wanted to chat to us all as there were some issues and he just wants to sort them out. He said everything is ok with trading standards apparently now (I'm not convinced yet though). He saw a negative review I put on google and ironically got aggressive at me, for calling him aggressive in the review. I did notice another bad review about the company from another random who also referred to them as forceful and aggressive. However there was a 5 star raving review. What a shame a quick google showed this review was copied word for word from another review last year for an agency in London. SO now they're faking reviews to get their name improved. I assume there's not a lot I can do about that, I just think its funny how desperate (and pretty dumb) they are. I've told google its a spam review, they'll probably take it down if they feel like it.