Experience of taking a complaint to the Property Ombudsman - Lettings

nadirnwo

Hi,

I have been struggling with my new flat that I have moved into as a tenant a couple of months ago. Both the letting agents and the landlord have been rubbish. I have not been provided with written contract, inventory provided 6 weeks later, deposit not protected within deadline, prescribed information not given, etc.

I am going to complain directly to the letting agents registered address. However, if I also want to make sure that I have everything in order in case I need to escalate to the Property Ombudsman service. Does anyone have any experience of taking a complaint to the TPO-Lettings?

Callie22

Yes, we made a complaint to TPO regarding a letting agent. Quite frankly, the whole experience was a total waste of time. Although TPO upheld our complaints there wasn't really anything that they could do, and in the end all they did was fine the agent £100. My feeling was that as agents have to pay to be registered with TPO, TPO have neither the power nor the will to actually do anything meaningful to poor agents. So by all means complain, but don't expect anything meaningful to come of it. You're more likely to do damage to your own blood pressure than the agency.

googler

'Everything in order' means you have to go through the agent's complete complaints process, not just write to them. If you're still not satisfied at that point, the ombudsman will consider your case.

mart.vader

IME the Property Ombudsman is a complete waste of time. They did nothing at all for me. Just said you have to go through the EA's complaints process.

nadirnwo

The TPO website says that they will only take up complaints after the letting agent has had 8 weeks to investigate the complaint. If I write in and give them 8 weeks to complete their internal processes would that suffice?

nadirnwo

Callie22 wrote: »

Yes, we made a complaint to TPO regarding a letting agent. Quite frankly, the whole experience was a total waste of time. Although TPO upheld our complaints there wasn't really anything that they could do, and in the end all they did was fine the agent £100. My feeling was that as agents have to pay to be registered with TPO, TPO have neither the power nor the will to actually do anything meaningful to poor agents. So by all means complain, but don't expect anything meaningful to come of it. You're more likely to do damage to your own blood pressure than the agency.

Thats a shame, though hardly surprising. But I just feel that I must take a stand of some sort rather than let them run me over. Or perhaps this feeling will pass.