MAJOR help needed... typical LA

marliepanda

FireWyrm wrote: »

Like everyone has said before, letting agents dont have to have formal qualification and don't have to even know the law. Nine times out of ten, a tenant knows more law than they do and to be fair, this can work in your favour. I won against my LL/LA at arbitration simply because I understood more law than they did and I was prepared to state my case in writing, clearly and concisely.

You have done that. Your deposit is another matter and one to be tackled later in the month if necessary. Rest assured that they cant just hold onto it and they WILL lose if they cannot prove a good reason for keeping it. My previous LA were also property solicitors and THEY couldnt manage to muster a convincing case for the arbitor so some fly by night operation who thinks it's fine to intimidate tenants isnt going to get anywhere, trust me.

I got a letter about the check out and it says its done by independent people and all deductions will be agreed on the day etc. My dad is going to be with me on check out so I won't be on my own/intimidated then.

Its say it is being done by TR Contents (an independent inventory clerk) Do you think its worth giving them a ring to see what they say?

ruggedtoast

If you do call 999 tomorrow, which you probably wont have to; I would recommend not saying anything about tenancies or notice periods. Just say some men from the letting agent are trying to break into your home and have been threatening you.

The police dont seem to have a good track record with these sorts of disputes. Half the time if they arent forcibly stopping homeowners from clearing illegal squatters out of their houses, they seem to be standing watching idly by while landlords illegally trespass on tenants property.

They understand breaking in and breaches of the peace though, so I would stick to that.

FireWyrm

marliepanda wrote: »

I got a letter about the check out and it says its done by independent people and all deductions will be agreed on the day etc. My dad is going to be with me on check out so I won't be on my own/intimidated then.

Its say it is being done by TR Contents (an independent inventory clerk) Do you think its worth giving them a ring to see what they say?

No.

Independent checkout clerks are just an excuse to charge more money. It doesnt make their position any stronger. Just out of interest, do they have a check-in that you signed? If not, they're on a hiding to nothing right there. All the photos in the world arnt going to help unless they can PROVE a financial loss to the LL...My LL tried to charge for repainting walls but failed to provide evidence that the work was actually carried out....point dismissed...etc. Dont tell the LA/EA that though...keep such information to yourself.

Dont agree ANYTHING on the day. Dont sign anything unless it's in your favor. If they say it's all ok and here's your deposit, just sign here...read the small print carefully before you do. Dont trust them, dont help them and dont tip your hand. It's up to them to do their jobs and up to you to make sure you're not being cheated. It was a harsh lesson for me since I thought that a solicitors firm would be more ethical than some LA in a depressed city...how wrong was I? If anything, the solicitors were far worse than my previous EA who at least told the LL where to get off when he tried to charge us for marks to a wooden floor under the varnish he put down prior to our tenancy. The solicitors were diabolical and in fact tried to intimidate me as some other posters on here will remember.

Anway, take it calmly. There's no way in hell they'll break in.

marliepanda

Thanks Ruggedtoast, if I do call it'll be 101 and theyve got my incident number and they did say they would attend if necessary. Fingers crossed.

I do have a check in inventory which I am happy with, and feel that and scuffs/dirt etc can either be cleaned/touched up or is wear and tear (light scratches to cheap laminate over 3yrs)

There are not any photos.

Anyway its 4.11pm and no reply! I am off out for a little bit so will update if they do reply when I get back.

chris_m

marliepanda wrote: »

Thanks Ruggedtoast, if I do call it'll be 101 and theyve got my incident number and they did say they would attend if necessary. Fingers crossed.

If someone is breaking into a property that is not a non-emergency, it is a crime in progress. 999 is the correct number in that instance.

BitterAndTwisted

At a rough guess I would say that bully-boy is a senior person on the sales side of things and has absolutely no comprehension about LL&T legislation. I'd guess that people on the lettings side have now filled him in. Or are at the very least scouring the internet (and the Shelter site, one hopes) to treble-check bully-boy's position. Hence no response.

sammyjammy

marliepanda wrote: »

Thanks Ruggedtoast, if I do call it'll be 101 and theyve got my incident number and they did say they would attend if necessary. Fingers crossed.

I do have a check in inventory which I am happy with, and feel that and scuffs/dirt etc can either be cleaned/touched up or is wear and tear (light scratches to cheap laminate over 3yrs)

There are not any photos.

Anyway its 4.11pm and no reply! I am off out for a little bit so will update if they do reply when I get back.

Can't help but just wanted to say best of luck tomorrow. I feel so awful that you are being treated like this and cannot imagine how it must feel.

Its a disgrace that this industry is not legislated.

FireWyrm

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

At a rough guess I would say that bully-boy is a senior person on the sales side of things and has absolutely no comprehension about LL&T legislation. I'd guess that people on the lettings side have now filled him in. Or are at the very least scouring the internet (and the Shelter site, one hopes) to treble-check bully-boy's position. Hence no response.

Its astonishing just how many people in some professions know so little.

I had a HR manager ball me out in the public office once because I brought her a voucher/invoice from D&H for some glasses. This was 10 years after the introduction of the VDU rules. No matter how I tried to explain, she wouldnt have it and insisted I was barking mad. She then proceeded to ring D&H and ball them out about telling her employees they were entitled to money from the company for glasses. I sat there and listened while trying to keep a keep the glee out of my eyes since I didnt really like her anyway.

This was a HR manager who is suppose to know her job for gods sake. How much worse is it going to be from a glorified sales office, the denizens of which can barely read let alone understand the law.

fivetide

ruggedtoast wrote: »

If you do call 999 tomorrow, which you probably wont have to; I would recommend not saying anything about tenancies or notice periods. Just say some men from the letting agent are trying to break into your home and have been threatening you.

Wouldn't bother adding that. Someone is breakign into your home full stop (assuming you are able to be there). simply because....

They understand breaking in and breaches of the peace though, so I would stick to that.

Of that.

Good luck!

5t.

marliepanda

The 101 number was if they turn up at all *will be waiting beady eyed at the window at 1.55pm* the lady said call 999 if they actually attempt to physically break in or threaten to.

Anyway 5.30pm, 2 and a half hours later from my final email and still no contact. No actual contact since 1pm. So, for tomorrow I have to hand my incident number. My original tenancy agreement plus a letter from them stating my agreed end date of 22nd August.

Surely as its the LA and viewer possibly coming, then they have no more 'right' in the polices eyes to be there than me. They aren't the LL and technical owner of the property. Surely they have no claims to the property and should be treated as 2 random men trying to get in?

Going forward, even if they don't turn up, I am honestly quite scared of them and do not want any more viewings until I leave. In the least case I do not want the two involved parties from today anywhere near me and my home. Is this something I can demand?