Estate agent To Let signs / boards

Daniel987

What's the general protocol with these? Let me describe the situation.

- I own the top floor of a maisonette.
- I'm about to let the property because i'm going traveling
- I have been in touch with a couple of estate agents whom have taken photographs, published them, etc
- I have gone round to the property this evening to find that one of them has bolted a 'TO LET' sign to the wood frame that is outside the porch of the house

This porch is jointly owned by both flats, so I can't say it's all mine and the bolts will leave holes that obviously wont be repaired and the downstairs owner is very unhappy.

The estate agent did not contact me to say they were putting up such signs.

opinions?

m0bov

should be cable tied. i would bill them for repairs.

Fire_Fox

Last time that happened here 'someone' ripped the board down. :whistle: The time before we discovered that particular estate agent was an obnoxious pr@t.

Write to your letting agent asking them to remove their board and make good the damage, assuming you did not give consent for it to be affixed in the contract you signed. Likely they have a tame handyman.

Daniel987

Thanks for the advice, I have not signed anything with them. it has all been verbal to date.

Werdnal

Whilst you are at it, tell them that their incompetence at putting up a sign, without your agreement and causing damage to the property has obviously ruled them out of letting your property for you.

I'm all for letting agents showing they are keen, but this one's action to date does not bode well for a good letting experience. If you are going to be away, you want agents you can trust to manage the property correctly and in line with your instructions!

Are you going travelling overseas? If so, I take it you are aware of the tax implications for non-UK resident landlords?

Daniel987

Werdnal wrote: »

Whilst you are at it, tell them that their incompetence at putting up a sign, without your agreement and causing damage to the property has obviously ruled them out of letting your property for you.

I'm all for letting agents showing they are keen, but this one's action to date does not bode well for a good letting experience. If you are going to be away, you want agents you can trust to manage the property correctly and in line with your instructions!

Are you going travelling overseas? If so, I take it you are aware of the tax implications for non-UK resident landlords?

I am indeed going overseas. Care to share info? I'm not aware no.

Werdnal

Daniel987 wrote: »

I am indeed going overseas. Care to share info? I'm not aware no.

Rather than give you just the tax info, and ignore all the other rules and regs of letting, you would be best reading this:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=41160642&postcount=12

There is a link towards the bottom of that thread for the HMRC Non-Resident (overseas) LL info. Basically, tax on your rental income needs to be deducted at source and paid to HMRC on your behalf whilst you are living outside the UK. If you are using an agent to fully manage the let, they should be able to handle this for you, but make them aware you will be non-UK resident. Believe it or not, if you do not register for tax to be paid under these regulations, the HMRC can actually make your tenant responsible for deducting the tax due on the rent they pay you and paying it direct to HMRC on your behalf!

You also need to provide the tenant with a postal address for serving notices and contacting you in England/Wales - again, agent will be able to act on this for you.

Even if you are expecting the agents to fully manage the property, the BUCK - both financial and legal, stops with you, so you as LL need to be aware of all the rules, laws etc of letting, so you can cover yourself if things go wrong.

Also, make sure your property is legal to let - consent on mortgage, freeholder permission, gas safety, LL insurance etc, as agent may just market it without necessarily checking you have complied with all this!

Fire_Fox

Daniel987 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, I have not signed anything with them. it has all been verbal to date.

Cheeky beggars! Note that verbal contracts are still contracts, but I assume you did not agree verbally to having a sign bolted to the building or you would not have posted.

Davesnave

Bear in mind that some agents do not erect their own signs, but use a third party, who may deal with signs for a number of local agents. It's certainly the case where I live.

googler

Davesnave wrote: »

Bear in mind that some agents do not erect their own signs, but use a third party, who may deal with signs for a number of local agents. It's certainly the case where I live.

Similar thought crossed my mind.

greatgimpo

Seems to me you're being bullied into signing up and accepting their services.