what should a letting agency offer?

red_devil

I rent a house and the agency who manage it never ever come round and check the house or ask me if everything is ok and are there any jobs need doing?

is this normal? Dosent seem much of a service to me? Can you complain? Are all agencys like this?

SwanJon

I think that is quite normal - the agency work for the landlord, not the tenant.
I seem to remember we only ever spoke to the agency when we initiated it (e.g. needed something fixed), apart from when the rent went up (but we were into a rolling contrcat by then).

red_devil

if they work for the landlord then thats part of it isnt it coming round and checking that the house is ok?

How do they know the state of it and what is happening if they dont come round?

what is the service they are offering then?

whalster

I think you are in a good position ,and the agent is doing a good job by not intruding so much.
As long as when you have reported something wrong and it has been quickly fixed then you have a good service.
I am a private landlord and tend to do this ,they probably know you are a good tenant and let you get on with your life in peace.

neneromanova

My god don't complain about that. Our last house was rented and the agents came round every 3 months which was a pain as someone always had to be in. The house was always immaculate so I never understood why they had to do it EVERY 3 months. Pain in the !!!!!

Werdnal

Many posters here moan about agents wanting to inspect too often, so don't rock the boat. As others have said, the agent works for the landlord, and the landlord has signed a contract with them covering the service they will provide him. It is up to the landlord to make a fuss if he doesn't think he is receiving the service he is paying for. Its nothing really to do with you, as agents work for him.

If you have issues or problems, repairs that need doing, etc put a written request to the agent to get them done. They are not going to come round for a chat and cup of tea if there is no reason, as there is nothing in it for them ...

sulphate

How long have you been living there? Most of the time agencies will want to come round every so often and do an inspection to check that you haven't knocked a wall down etc, and like others have said it's annoying to have them come round just to check YOU haven't done anything. If something needs fixing it's up to you to contact them.

moromir

red_devil wrote: »

if they work for the landlord then thats part of it isnt it coming round and checking that the house is ok?

How do they know the state of it and what is happening if they dont come round?

what is the service they are offering then?

Isn't that the landlord's business?

Maybe they charge for visits and he's decided he doesn't want to pay for them as you'll call if theres problem?

G_M

What exactly do you want from them?

Have you got a problem? leaking roof? Broken boiler? etc? If so, have you written and reported it at the address provided "for the serving of notices"?

If you have no problem, what will you gain by the agent doing.... whatever it is you expect them to do?

Granted, your landlord may be getting a poor service for his money, (or maybe is paying for a minimal service), but that is his problem, not yours!

red_devil

so agencies charge for visits do they?

neneromanova

red_devil wrote: »

so agencies charge for visits do they?

I think they take a bigger percentage cut of the rent each month to inspect the property for the landlord.