Letting agency wants £30 for a reference!!

Baker89

Okay thanks B&T. I'll print that email off that states we have always paid the rent in full and on time, it is dated back in June this year but still stands true as we have bank statements proving as such.

And yet again I have a few more questions, sorry.

The agents seems to be picking up on every tiny little thing to the utmost detail! So I'm doing the same! Having looked on the inventory (due to them saying every room must be the same as listed on the inventory, and everything listed as being in whatever room must be in it's correct place/position etc) I've looked at the inventory and it's got the wrong address on it! I did notice this before but thought nothing of it..

I did put on the inventory (before they got a copy of it) that we didn't live in the village named on the inventory but we lived in a different village.. The house number and street name is correct but not the village.

Also I've been going through the receipts we were given at the time and they've given us someone elses receipt (this is no doubt irrelevant) but thought I'd mention it as it has someone elses name on it, the address they live at/ or did live at the amount they paid etc. And the last 4 digits of that persons Visa Debit card, obviously not a massive breach of the data protection act but a breach none the less!

Can I use any of this? I mean the inventory clearly states on it that the address is incorrect, as I put on it "should say (name of village the house is really in)"

Basically this agency is beyond stupid and can't even get the simplest thing right! And after looking at reviews of them online out of I think it was 89 people only 8 recommended them!

Probably 8 staff members..

Baker89

Could someone please respond to my post above if possible?

Thanks in advance.

Yorkie1

I think the points you mention most recently are frivolous points not worth pursuing. If you accepted and signed the inventory at the start of the tenancy, and you accept it does in fact relate to your property, I suspect that an arbitrator or judge wouldn't give that argument the time of day.

As regards the Data Protection issue, it is irrelevant to the deposit issue.

The only thing relevant to the deposit is whether you are returning the property in the same condition as it was when you rented it, less fair wear and tear. Remove any scuffs on the walls, marks on the carpet, consider getting the carpets cleaned professionally. Clean down the loo and in the oven. On top of cupboards. Take lots of photos.

You could report them to the Information Commissioner re the receipt but that is a completely separate issue.

clutton_2

if you cannot get a reference from your current landlord i would want some extra good evidence of your tenancy to convince me to take you on.... 6 months of bank statements showing the rental going in unfailingly would go a long way to convincing me to see you in a good light.

As a LL myeslf, if i thought you were ok... i would be tempted to phone the current landlord and have a chat to see what they say.

BTW - if i want a reference from an ex local authority in one of my investment areas they want £69 !!!!!!!

another way might be to submit a Data Protection Request with the requisite fee, which is definitely less than £30 and ask for a copy of ALL info the hav e on you... that should include inspection reports rent schedule, everything... they cannot refuse this - if they are not registered with the Data Commissioners - they may want to give you a free reference anyways to prevent you from reporting them !

Baker89

clutton wrote: »

if you cannot get a reference from your current landlord i would want some extra good evidence of your tenancy to convince me to take you on.... 6 months of bank statements showing the rental going in unfailingly would go a long way to convincing me to see you in a good light.

You sound like a cynical landlord then whose clearly had his/her share of bad tenants!

As I've already stated come February I could easily provide 12 months bank statements showing the rent going 'out', and this whole would convince you to see me in a good light thing definitely tells me you've had bad tenants in the past.

clutton wrote: »

As a LL myself, if i thought you were ok... i would be tempted to phone the current landlord and have a chat to see what they say.

Well good luck with that (and whether you thought I was 'ok' is neither here or there as you won't ever be my landlord) and the agency said to me in an email that they would not give out any information unless I paid them £30 and also gave them my authorisation!!

clutton wrote: »

BTW - if i want a reference from an ex local authority in one of my investment areas they want £69 !!!!!!!

And if you wanted the reference you'd pay the £69 so any potential landlords of yours don't ask you for extra good evidence such as 6 months of bank statements showing the rent going out presumably?

clutton wrote: »

Another way might be to submit a Data Protection Request with the requisite fee, which is definitely less than £30 and ask for a copy of ALL info the hav e on you... that should include inspection reports rent schedule, everything... they cannot refuse this - if they are not registered with the Data Commissioners - they may want to give you a free reference anyways to prevent you from reporting them !

And how would I word this Data Protection Request?? As I've never done anything like it before.

I've checked with the Information Commissioners office by the way and the agency I rent through are registered with them.

BitterAndTwisted

You're sounding very defensive there Baker89. Clutton's only telling you what she would do, not what every landlord does. Her alleged past bad experiences are not a reflection on you. Please be nice to our regulars or they may not pass by to give their valuable advice or opinions again.

Baker89

Sorry B&T,

I don't mean to be defensive, sometimes written word can come across differently to how it's meant.

Could you please advise me how I'd go about wording a Data Protection Request and what information I should be asking for?

Thanks in advance.

Yorkie1

It's called a subject access request - if you google the information commissioners office then you'll find info on there.

missile

You could bypass the agent and ask the LL. He is under no obligation, but may be willing to provide the reference for free.

I would suggest there is more to being a good tenant than providing evidence that you have paid the rent on time.

tbs624

clutton wrote: »

....submit a Data Protection Request with the requisite fee, which is definitely less than £30 !

Yorkie1 wrote: »

It's called a subject access request - if you google the information commissioners office then you'll find info on there.

Useful post Yorkie1 - it's always best if OPs are given the right information rather than a made up title, the use of which may make it look like s/he doesn't have a clue what s/he is asking for

OP - it will cost you a max of 10 quid, but if you go down this route it is best to stipulate what you would like them to detail so that you get all the info for that one fee. If there are notes of decisions made, you can ask them to explain the reasoning behind them, for example. The main problem for you in your current set up is that the receiver of that SAR can string out their response to you for a max of *40 days*

Could you consider
(a) coughing up that 30 quid but telling them that you want a "to whom it may concern" job handing over?
or
(b) following G_M's sensible suggestion that you go direct to the LL, who after all does not want an undue delay in gaining repossession of the property.

Many LLs (especially those who self manage) are capable of making decisions about potential Ts based on a larger picture.B&T's comment about refs from previous LLs is helpful because intelligent LLs recognise that sometimes LAs in particular can have a poor relationship with a T and get on a bit of a power trip about the provision of refs.

FWIW I don't see an issue with a reasonable fee being charged - it's no different to the fees charged by, for example, docs for a letter to your med insurer, or for your kid's exam board in the case of illness etc. That said, there should also be no real issue about the LL/LA supplying the ref direct to you.

When you do leave, make sure that you take detailed photos of everything so that the LA/LL is limited in what they can assert was the condition in which you handed back the property. Down lavvy pans and close up of basins/sinks & bath inc taps etc, inside white goods & cupboards, on top of picture rails/skirtings, round light switches, outside too. Photos of meter readings too. Upload them to an online pix storage site so that they are effectively dated.