We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide
Tenants 'ripped off' by letting agents keeping deposits
Comments
-
I'd like to commission some market research among letting agents.
How many of you, in your career history have the following entries;-
double glazing sales
timeshare sales
Amway/Utility Warehouse/water filters
insurance direct sales
mortgages pre-2004?
It has to be the last bastion left to the unregulatable?
Apologies, of course, to the reputable firms and individuals having their profession besmirched by such people.
It used to be us.I am a mortgage broker. You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a Mortgage Adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice. Please do not send PMs asking for one-to-one-advice, or representation.0 -
We paid a holding deposit as well as reference check fees. The agent then said the LL had pulled out (Later found out he was told it was us). They would not return our deposit and said they would keep the checks for other properties. They never got in touch again and we doubt very much if they ever did any checks.
Talking to a friend, the same agents did the exact same to their son.
Seems like it is good business if you can get away with it.0 -
jjlandlord wrote: »If you start forbidding fees because of the risk of rip off, you can just ban money altogether...
However, note that the article mentions deposits, not fees. Scotland bans fees.
If you have a judgement against the agent, he will pay or close shop.
He will pay because when he does not you will send bailiffs to seize his goods.
Again, the law is there, people should use it.
Going to court costs money, bailiffs cost money - those who rent often don't have the spare cash to follow through with legal action.0 -
outofmoney wrote: »Seems like it is good business if you can get away with it.
They got away with it because you let them.JencParker wrote: »Going to court costs money...
Court fees for a money claim filed online vary from £25 to £70 from amounts due up to £1,500.
Clearly that's affordable for someone who just paid hundreds in deposits and fees.
That's exactly my point: People whine, they don't want to stand up for themselves, they think they are just entitled to everything.
"Too expensive", "too complicated", "unfair", "too much trouble"... Please.
When it's time to upgrade the smartphone or to renew the subscription to Sky, suddenly there is no longer any problem.0 -
jjlandlord wrote: »They got away with it because you let them.
Court fees for a money claim filed online vary from £25 to £70 from amounts due up to £1,500.
Clearly that's affordable for someone who just paid hundreds in deposits and fees.
That's exactly my point: People whine, they don't want to stand up for themselves, they think they are just entitled to everything.
"Too expensive", "too complicated", "unfair", "too much trouble"... Please.
When it's time to upgrade the smartphone or to renew the subscription to Sky, suddenly there is no longer any problem.
So says a landlord!
I doubt you've never had to find money so don't know what it's like to not be able to pursue it though the legal process.
And you omitted bailiffs costs on top of that. Doesn't matter if the court award the amount to you, you've still got to get it.0 -
JencParker wrote: »And you omitted bailiffs costs on top of that. Doesn't matter if the court award the amount to you, you've still got to get it.
Oh, I'm sorry. Life is tough, isn't it?0 -
It is for some, obviously not landlords.0
-
JencParker wrote: »Going to court costs money, bailiffs cost money - those who rent often don't have the spare cash to follow through with legal action.
Or the time ... or the bravery. If you're facing the prospect of having nowhere to live then your priority is finding housing, not fighting an agent through the courts. Equally, I've been in a situation where an agent has threatened to 'blacklist' myself and my partner with other local agents, all because we reported a landlord to Environmental Health and made a complaint to the Council's private tenancy officer. I won't stand for that kind of bull but I can imagine those kinds of threats will make a lot of people just walk away from their money, because their need for a home is greater than their desire for justice.0 -
Just do what I would do. Go in the office with a friend (6' male) and raise the roof. If they threaten to call police just say ''OK'' because you'll the tell the press. Get in there !!!!0
-
jjlandlord wrote: »They got away with it because you let them.
We were young and perhaps naive. We truly believed they would keep us informed when other properties came up. But how exactly would we 'not let them get away with it'?0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.5K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.5K Spending & Discounts
- 247.4K Work, Benefits & Business
- 604.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.5K Life & Family
- 261.8K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards