LA troubles, where do I stand?

Spacepig

Err, anyone?

pinkshoes

Spacepig wrote: »

Afternoon,

I can't find much in regards to the tenants fee's;

- Once the application fee has been paid we request that the landlord does not accept any other offers on the property therefore the application fee is non-refundable under all circumstances.
-The Landlord agrees to co-operate with Tenants4U.com as may be required.
-Any application fee made by a Tenant is non-refundable and cannot be cancelled. Application fees are £99+VAT per person.


No mention of holding fee's but the fee I paid, was the admin/reference for two people.

You paid a fee for something that doesn't exist. It would seem that there IS no property. I would send a "letter before action" to the people you paid the fee to, giving them 14 days to refund in full.

A full refund should be due, otherwise you could call it an unfair T&C.

Spacepig

pinkshoes wrote: »

You paid a fee for something that doesn't exist. It would seem that there IS no property. I would send a "letter before action" to the people you paid the fee to, giving them 14 days to refund in full.

A full refund should be due, otherwise you could call it an unfair T&C.

This is the problem. I'm not sure what's happening. Most things point to the above being the case.

What can I ask the associate? Any details? The email was a smart move, anyone can pose as someone else through email.

I spoke to my bank too and they sent a form but unsure how to correctly answer this question "Specify agreed location for goods/service" You don't agree to get a reference sent to you, so I'm confused with this one. It was only when my bank mentioned this would be the only way I'd have a case as the LA had done their job. Now it's time to prove they done the job.

I guess the question is, do LA have an obligation to provide evidence of a reference check upon request?

Annie1960

http://www.landlords.org.uk/sites/default/files/UKALA%20Code%20of%20Practice%20April%202014.pdf

Section 7 talks about references.

You could put in a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act.

http://ico.org.uk/for_the_public/personal_information

Spacepig

Annie1960 wrote: »

http://www.landlords.org.uk/sites/default/files/UKALA%20Code%20of%20Practice%20April%202014.pdf

Section 7 talks about references.

You could put in a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act.

http://ico.org.uk/for_the_public/personal_information

Worth knowing. Thanks.

seasideme

Spacepig wrote: »

Final nail in the coffin?

I got business details of the property owner but it doesn't have a landline, only an address. After a Google search, the first result is a forum topic with the title "Dodgy company" The address is the same as the LL associate gave me. Granted there's a few companies working in this office block but nothing is found with the company name he's given me.

So when we add all of this up. Why does it still ooze a 'legit' feeling? He's gone through a LA who has won awards (probably worthless), & has no bad feedback online. He's asked me for a guarantor, he's asked me to move in next work and he must have been referenced by the Letting agents. A dodgy LL wouldn't have bothered if all he wanted was to grab the cash and run.

Incidentally, the LL associate who deals with the properties/renting/agreement didn't even know I'd come through a LA. He wants me to email the LL who's on holiday, so the LL can email me over agreements to sign.

So, experts. What the bleedin' heck is going on?

Did he personally ask for these or was it the LA saying so?

So is the LA only finding tenants and not managing the properties? Even so it should be the LA who sends over all the details not the LL. You should then get full details of the LL. We have just moved into a flat found through an agency, all documentation came from the LA, who when getting the keys etc gave us the LLs details

Personally I don't like online LA after falling into the trap of a scam company who did no checks and ran off with all tenants money.

Is your LA legit?

rpc

Letter before action asking for a refund of all monies. Send it to both LA and LL.

Then start a county court claim.

Spacepig

seasideme wrote: »

Did he personally ask for these or was it the LA saying so?

So is the LA only finding tenants and not managing the properties? Even so it should be the LA who sends over all the details not the LL. You should then get full details of the LL. We have just moved into a flat found through an agency, all documentation came from the LA, who when getting the keys etc gave us the LLs details

Personally I don't like online LA after falling into the trap of a scam company who did no checks and ran off with all tenants money.

Is your LA legit?

All contact has been through the LA. The LA, according to their website can manage properties or just find tenants. I'm guessing on this one, they're just finding tenants.

They refused to give any information on the LL but after several calls they finally gave a mobile number for the "LL" but turns out this was an associate who knew nothing.

The LA doesn't have anything negative on the net BUT all the feedback is from LL. There's no real feedback to go by, no forum posts, no blogs, nothing. I will mention them when everything gets sorted and also report them to trading standards. They may be legit in the sense that they don't just run with the cash and ignore calls but not a company that seems to adhere to any quality.

Spacepig

Just gets better..

Finally received a phone call from the Landlord. Only problem is that I can tell from the voice this was the guy that showed me around the flat when I first went. It's very distinctive, deep voice.

This is MR.K, the landlord according to Mr Mills (associate). When showing me around the flat I asked about the rent and MR.K told me he'd have to ask the Landlord...?

:money:

seasideme

Spacepig wrote: »

All contact has been through the LA. The LA, according to their website can manage properties or just find tenants. I'm guessing on this one, they're just finding tenants.

They refused to give any information on the LL but after several calls they finally gave a mobile number for the "LL" but turns out this was an associate who knew nothing.

The LA doesn't have anything negative on the net BUT all the feedback is from LL. There's no real feedback to go by, no forum posts, no blogs, nothing. I will mention them when everything gets sorted and also report them to trading standards. They may be legit in the sense that they don't just run with the cash and ignore calls but not a company that seems to adhere to any quality.

So no actual contact with the LL then. Sorry seen you spoke to an 'associate'. Are you due to pay them anymore money soon? Sounds like they are leading you on with no intention of handing over keys.

Our LA only found tenants (us) for our new place, they aren't managing it, same with the last place but EVERYTHING came from the LA. Signing of contracts, handing over deposit, getting keys etc