How much responsibility do letting agencies have to take?

theartfullodger

So you've left the place:

I'd start with a calm polite letter, and give him a deadline to reply (say 14 says... he may know nothing about the issues...).

If unhappy with his response or no response write a "letter before action"..

If no sensible reply take him to small-claims...

You have many fewer options now you have left: I presume you have paper-trail of your earlier complaints & requests??

Was there a deposit?? Has it been returned to you in full??

DJ_MPH

theartfullodger wrote: »

So you've left the place:

I'd start with a calm polite letter, and give him a deadline to reply (say 14 says... he may know nothing about the issues...).

If unhappy with his response or no response write a "letter before action"..

If no sensible reply take him to small-claims...

You have many fewer options now you have left: I presume you have paper-trail of your earlier complaints & requests??

Was there a deposit?? Has it been returned to you in full??

A polite letter is a good start I would not be surprised if he has not been made aware of many of the issues, or the letting agency delayed in informing him (judging by the way they respond [or dont respond!] to us)

Yes there was a deposit which, of course, he wants to make deductions from. These deductions are being contested by us, and we have requested that, should he feel the deductions are warranted, to issue us with the rest of the deposit and we will contest the deducted amount with the dispute resolution centre. However this has been done through the agency, so we have no confirmation that he is aware of anything.

We have been waiting since mid-november for the return of our deposit and the agency claim that they have been unable to contact the landlord since. But remarkably they have been able to let the property to someone else since we have moved out - something which surely must involve contact the landlord?

Yes i have a paper trail of most of out communications with the letting agency. I started this a few months into the tenancy when we started having issues with the agency not responding to our requests.

G_M

A couple of points to add:

1) Witing to the landlord. Yes. But where? You must always write to the landlord at the address "for the serving of notices" which by law you have to have been given. Usually it is on the tenancy agreement.

But note that this address can be anywhere he chooses, and is often c/o his agents. It can be his real address. It can even be his mum's!

2) Since you have left, what is your motivation and what do you hope to achieve? Has your deposit been returned or is thisone aspect of a deposit dispute? Or are you simply hoping to improve things for the next tenant?

The answer to this might influence the best advice!

19lottie82

DJ_MPH wrote: »

[or dont respond!] to us)

Yes there was a deposit which, of course, he wants to make deductions from. These deductions are being contested by us, and we have requested that, should he feel the deductions are warranted, to issue us with the rest of the deposit and we will contest the deducted amount with the dispute resolution centre. However this has been done through the agency, so we have no confirmation that he is aware of anything.

We have been waiting since mid-november for the return of our deposit and the agency claim that they have been unable to contact the landlord since. But remarkably they have been able to let the property to someone else since we have moved out - something which surely must involve contact the landlord?

Just go to the deposit resolution centre directly? As long as you have the login details just go online and request your deposit back.