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Agency did not protect my deposit (tenancy now over)

2»

Comments

  • shadow47
    shadow47 Posts: 79 Forumite
    RabbitMad wrote: »
    I'd save your energy and use this as a learning experience as you are not coming across very reasonably in this thread.

    £200

    I think I'll just move on.

    Live and learn.

    That will be the last time I use a small agency In future I'll be using a more successful one that can do their jobs properly, know all of the current laws and adhere to them.

    And most of all not to lie and deceive.

    When I moved in there were all sorts of promises...

    "We'll fit individual letterboxes"
    "We're going to install security cameras"
    "You have an excellent landlord, he deals with repairs straight away"

    Since found out these were all lies, they say that to every mug that views the flat to get that signature on that tenancy agreement and GET THOSE ADMIN FEES BABY!! £150 for 30 minutes work! Then drive off in your BMW and jet off to Australia for 6 weeks a year.

    It takes a kid a whole week to earn 150 working in McDonalds/Primark, and they print a few generic tenancy agreements, perform a simple credit check. Then they fleece the LL of 20% probably charge him more FEES. No justice, these scum bags should be regulated!!!
  • RabbitMad
    RabbitMad Posts: 2,069 Forumite
    £150 for 30 minutes work - you are joking right?

    Its not 30 minutes work and there are lots of costs. The £150 fee may sound high when you think about what they are doing for you personally but its just a cost they choose to pass on to you directly otherwise the LL would have to pay or the rent would be higher.

    How many viewings? - think of the petrol to and from the office to show people round - BMW's aren't cheap to run.
    How many weeks did they advertise the property for - how much did that cost?
    How much did the generic tenancy agreement cost them - was it drafted properly by a solicitor for £x which they have used multiple times (but its cost has to be paid for)
    Credit checks, are they £10 , £20 or more?

    Being a LA isn't easy money by my standard, it might seem like it from the outside but its not.
  • 19lottie82
    19lottie82 Posts: 6,034 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    shadow47 wrote: »
    she told me I need to fill in all the holes in the wall with pollyfilla

    Why on earth were the holes in the walls?
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Your original contract continued, as they say, after the 1st 6 months.
    No, I had a 6 month contract that had expired, I was paying rent on a month to month basis.

    I told the LL/Agency that I was moving out and they told me I need to stay another month before my "tenancy agreement" expires. As a member of my family went guarantor, I paid up in full, every last penny.
    The 'month' has to align with the monthly rental periods (eg 4th to 3rd of the month, depending which day the 6 month contract ended). Did it? Was this all done in writing?

    The LL (NOT his agent), can withold the deposit (or make deductions) if you owe
    a) rent (hence th question above) or
    b) damage/cleaning

    For b) above, the LL will need proof - that means a checkin inventory, signed by you, at the start of the tenancy describing the state of the property at the start, against which to compare the state at the end.

    So as I said in my earlier post, write to the LL asking on what basis the deposit was witheld. If no checkin inventory, AND given you have phots/witness from when you moved out, you may hve a strong case to undermine any claim the LL makes.

    Other problems with the flat maintenance, or promises broken, are irrelevant legally, though annoying to you.

    Do you know the LL's name/address? Do you still have the original tenancy agreement? Is it on there?
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    19lottie82 wrote: »
    Why on earth were the holes in the walls?
    Drawing pins for the posters? 30 seconds work.
  • dodger1
    dodger1 Posts: 4,579 Forumite
    G_M wrote: »
    Drawing pins for the posters? 30 seconds work.

    You wouldn't be filling drawing pin holes with polyfilla.
    It's someone else's fault.
  • RabbitMad
    RabbitMad Posts: 2,069 Forumite
    19lottie82 wrote: »
    Why on earth were the holes in the walls?

    Where the OP removed the hooks he had installed for his Bondage sessions?
  • shadow47
    shadow47 Posts: 79 Forumite
    RabbitMad wrote: »
    Where the OP removed the hooks he had installed for his Bondage sessions?

    No.

    Actually I had my own scaffolding system set up in the bedroom.

    With pulleys and winches set up for all types of female (even the 30 stone variety).

    They loved it.

    But ya know, those right wing fascists (landlords) hated it man.
    FU*K THE REGIME!
  • jjlandlord
    jjlandlord Posts: 5,099 Forumite
    edited 6 March 2012 at 9:46PM
    RabbitMad wrote: »
    Its not 30 minutes work and there are lots of costs. The £150 fee may sound high when you think about what they are doing for you personally but its just a cost they choose to pass on to you directly otherwise the LL would have to pay or the rent would be higher.

    How many viewings? - think of the petrol to and from the office to show people round - BMW's aren't cheap to run.
    How many weeks did they advertise the property for - how much did that cost?
    How much did the generic tenancy agreement cost them - was it drafted properly by a solicitor for £x which they have used multiple times (but its cost has to be paid for)
    Credit checks, are they £10 , £20 or more?

    The number of viewings, showing people around, advertising costs , etc. have nothing to do with the admin fees paid by the tenant.
    These are paid for by whatever agent charges the landlord to find a tenant.

    Admin fees only cover preparing the tenancy agreement, and referencing if agent does not charge separately for that.

    The marginal cost of a tenancy agreement is just the cost of printing 2 copies.
    Gathering tenants' details and filling the agreement takes a few minutes of effective work.

    No-one denies that agents have costs to cover, but at the same time it's undeniable that when a tenant pays £150 admin fees he gets appalling value for money.
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