Letting Agent bust and no contact details for landlord, help!

rantingbadger

Hi all,

We're coming to the end of our 12 month tenancy (end of August) and thought I should get in touch with the letting agents to make sure they know that we're not renewing. Couldn't find their website for the number and eventually found an article saying that they were being investigated regarding deposits and have since scarpered.
We started paying directly to the landlord in March before this came to light in May so I guess they had some kind of warning. I have no way of contacting the landlord to make sure our deposits are safe (letting agents may have falsified deposit scheme info, will look for documents this evening). Would it be considered unethical to cancel our final payment? It wouldn't cover the deposit but it might be the only way to get the landlord to contact us. We don't even know their name.

Any advice, links to what to do would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

Angelicdevil

Take a look at companies house and find them on there.

BitterAndTwisted

How did the landlord get in touch with you to direct you to pay your rent direct?

Is there no address for the landlord on your tenancy agreement?

Get onto the Land Registry website and check what address they have for the owner.

rantingbadger

Angelicdevil wrote: »

Take a look at companies house and find them on there.

Sorry, I don't understand?

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

How did the landlord get in touch with you to direct you to pay your rent direct?

Is there no address for the landlord on your tenancy agreement?

Get onto the Land Registry website and check what address they have for the owner.

The letting agents contacted us and gave us the new details, no name just account no and sort code. My housemate has spoken to them on the phone but no longer has the number she used (given to us by the agents after much persuasion). She was just confirming their bank details and they had a pretty poor attitude, something along the lines of "hmmf, I don't get calls from tenants. That's what the letting agents are for. Those details are correct, bye"
Going to check documentation for their address this evening but will check land registry now, thanks

Mallotum_X

Cancel the DD, and wait for them to call....

DRP

rantingbadger wrote: »

Sorry, I don't understand?


The letting agents contacted us and gave us the new details, no name just account no and sort code. My housemate has spoken to them on the phone but no longer has the number she used (given to us by the agents after much persuasion). She was just confirming their bank details and they had a pretty poor attitude, something along the lines of "hmmf, I don't get calls from tenants. That's what the letting agents are for. Those details are correct, bye"
Going to check documentation for their address this evening but will check land registry now, thanks

It sounds like you are very trusting! :eek:

As already suggested, cancel your DD immediately and wait for the phone call.

rantingbadger

DRP wrote: »

It sounds like you are very trusting! :eek:

As already suggested, cancel your DD immediately and wait for the phone call.

Hahaha, the area we live in is a nightmare for lets. If you want to get a 2 bed place without the nonsense it's at least £1000 pcm. We're really at the mercy of these guys- letting agents in general that is. Really wanted to go private but there's too high a demand.
Stopping payments tonight.

Angelicdevil

rantingbadger wrote: »

Sorry, I don't understand?

Sorry, misread OP! Ignore that post.

B&T's suggestion of looking it up on the Land Registry site is a good one. c£3 for the information:

http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/public/property-ownership

poppysarah

Mallotum_X wrote: »

Cancel the DD, and wait for them to call....

Put the rent aside and DO NOT SPEND IT on anything else than the rent.

ValHaller

rantingbadger wrote: »

Sorry, I don't understand?


The letting agents contacted us and gave us the new details, no name just account no and sort code. My housemate has spoken to them on the phone but no longer has the number she used (given to us by the agents after much persuasion). She was just confirming their bank details and they had a pretty poor attitude, something along the lines of "hmmf, I don't get calls from tenants. That's what the letting agents are for. Those details are correct, bye"
Going to check documentation for their address this evening but will check land registry now, thanks

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

I take it you were given this information in writing? Guard the communication with your life as your defence in case the Letting Agent has pulled a fast one and it is not the Landlord's account! You could even have been scammed as to the Landlord's details!

Yes, check the Deposit Scheme info. In your position, I suggest you withhold rent from now on and keep it until you are confident about the Landlord.

rantingbadger

ValHaller wrote: »

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

I take it you were given this information in writing? Guard the communication with your life as your defence in case the Letting Agent has pulled a fast one and it is not the Landlord's account! You could even have been scammed as to the Landlord's details!

Yes, check the Deposit Scheme info. In your position, I suggest you withhold rent from now on and keep it until you are confident about the Landlord.

I'm confident that this is the correct account as we've had no trouble for the last few months. Got his name and address now so will do some snooping, ideally I would find a number but that is proving to be difficult.