Country Wide lettings - beware!

bap98189

I would definitely say this is a rip-off. Most letting agencies will charge the tennants a fee for credit checking, but this is normally fairly low, (£10-20). They will then charge a fee for arranging the contract, but if this is any more than £100 then walk away.

As for the inventory, why on earth should the tennants pay for an inventory to be drawn up? That is frankly ridiculous. I would find another flat, and probably write to or phone the landlord to tell them why you aren't taking it. He/she may have no idea what this agency is trying to charge prospective tennants.

prudryden

Tenants do not pay for Inventory/Condition Report on check in. The landlord pays for that. The tenant pays for the check out report as that is for his benefit.

GreenNinja

Hi,

I used to rent a flat out using Countrywide and there were a complete nightmare the entire time. I felt very much that they took lots of money for to be frank not a lot in return. They were quite unhelpful a lot of the time, and used to play myself and the tenant off against each other.

I would not deal with this company again to be honest.

GreenNinja

And just as an addition I never tried to keep the tenants deposit. Not every Landlord is a money grabber.

I did however have a tenant who stubbed a fag out in the centre of my living room carpet, then trod mud through the entire lounge and threatened to take me to court when I kept his deposit for new carpet! Takes all sorts doesn't it. LOL

turnbull

Hi,

Yet another interesting development. We have agreed to take the place and pay a deposit, however, the deposit doesn't guarantee us the flat and the landlord can pull out if they decide to go for full asking price, rent to soemone else, not rent or sell it. It clearly states this in the deposit letter.

Our deposit commits us to signing the contract as well and we can't even see this until a few days before we're due to move in. Countrywide tell me that's standard practice, i.e. we commit to taking the place and the landlord doesn't give any commitment until a few days before we move in so if he pulls out, we're homeless and if he puts the rent up, we have little choice.

I think the problems we're having here are more to do with Countrywide Lettings than anything else. My advise is to avoid them like the plague. Their prices seem like a rip off, we've been lied to and the whole thing is becoming a joke and shambles

Verbatim

Try a website like gumtree where you can arrange to rent a flat direct with the landlord. No fees involved, except perhaps for credit referencing and the rent is likely to be lower too as all the rent goes to the l/l with no slice to the agents.

franklee

turnbull wrote: »

Yet another interesting development. We have agreed to take the place and pay a deposit, however, the deposit doesn't guarantee us the flat and the landlord can pull out if they decide to go for full asking price, rent to soemone else, not rent or sell it. It clearly states this in the deposit letter.

Our deposit commits us to signing the contract as well and we can't even see this until a few days before we're due to move in. Countrywide tell me that's standard practice, i.e. we commit to taking the place and the landlord doesn't give any commitment until a few days before we move in so if he pulls out, we're homeless and if he puts the rent up, we have little choice.

I think the problems we're having here are more to do with Countrywide Lettings than anything else. My advise is to avoid them like the plague. Their prices seem like a rip off, we've been lied to and the whole thing is becoming a joke and shambles

Just what is the point of all this? You have asked for advice, it's been generously given, all saying steer clear but yet you are going ahead against even your OWN advice. You haven't thanked anyone. Why should we care when it all goes wrong as it's bound to do. Sheeh, you haven't even read the contract. Are you mad?

Mrs_Optimist

Are they connected to Miller Countrywide? If so, avoid like the plague.

turnbull

Right. Update news. We've pulled out with CountryWide and have found a new house with another agent. £100 fees and they will take the place off the market once we get an offer agreed.

THe lesson here is that not all letting agents are bad. Thanks for the advice folks.

lellie

I remember seeing this a while back but now we've found a house we like let by this bunch.. are we really best to avoid or has anyone had any good experiences with them?