Letting Agency Lied...Need Advice Please

t0pd0g

Hi, I am new on here but I have searched this site to find answers to commonquestions.

I have a problem with my letting agent. I viewed a flat and I decided totake it as it was ideal location.

Omg @ Fees
I paid the agency fees of £200 + VAT and £175 + Vat for inventory checklist(that's £445 in Fees). I was told that they charge for a detailed inventory andthis would help protect my deposit !!! its very good to have, o I decided to gofor it. I really liked the flat and more the location as its close touniversity.

During the viewing the agent said that the flat will be cleaned and preparedand read to be moved into on my start date. I collected my key on move in dateand didn't move in till 6 Days later. When I did move in the place wasobviously not cleaned, Bathroom was dirty, kitchen/lounge was dirty,oven/kettle/toaster dirty, carpet in all rooms not hovered, dusty, a lot ofmarks on all walls in all rooms and post box key doesn't fit.

I looked at the detailed inventory and it wasn't very detailed at all.Looked like someone spent 5 minutes to go through it and pretty much lied onwhat was not a true representation of the condition of the flat. Furious andangry I went through the inventory and made my notes in detail. I returned theinventory back to the agency as instructed on the 7th day onWednesday (which was the last day to hand it back) and told them I am nothappy.

I never got a reply from them and then I decided to email the agency toensure I have some evidence if this was going to go further than it needed tobe. Agency replied (Friday) saying that they did not have the flat ontheir books and took it over from another agency and did not have the righttime to get everything ready for my key collection date. This made me moreangry because during the process I used a guarantor, due to being studentbut my first guarantor failed their checks and I was told that I will lose theagency fee if I don't get another guarantor by the same day. After make lots ofcalls I finally got another guarantor and the checks were passed. However,during the process I was told that I need to get this done very quickly inorder to pick up the keys and I felt pressurised at this point. Finally allpaperwork done and out of the way.

After complaining I was put in touch with the property manager who told metht the cleaners will contact me to arrange the cleaning. The cleaners didcontact me by text but at 745am and said that they will come on the same morning.I felt this to be inappropriate as I wasn't given adequate time to be ready forthem. So I re-arranged a time and day suitable for me nd they did come, butwhen they turned they said it was a light clean and finished the cleaningwithin 30mins. I’m again angry the clean wasn't up to par.

I emailed the agency again and this time they didn't reply, I waited 6 daysand still no reply. I emiled them agin and still no reply. My emailed statedthat I would like some sort of compensation from them for their unprofessionalapproach.

I am now tired waiting for them to reply and do something bout this issue.

What can I do to get a result from the agency? I am dearly upset and angry.Who should I contact in terms of filing a complaint against the agency?

Your replies are most appreciated

Regards.

M Arshad

anselld

It is not normal for tenant to pay for checkin inventory and this is more to protect the landlord than your own interest.
However, I fear you are too late to recover that. You could see if they are members of any trade body (ARLA) etc and complain there but I don't think you will have much hope.
What is more important is to protect your deposit. Mark up the inventory to describe the checkin state and send a copy back to the agents. This is the best state they can expect the flat on checkout. Make sure your deposit is protected in one of the schemes.

Guest101

Take solace that if the only inventory you signed had the proper details on it, you have protected your deposit, best you can