Property Information Form missing a LOT of info.

Eejay

We'd better get it back. My husband was just asked to transfer the money to a bank account to have the property taken off the market - I don't think he had to sign anything and because he did it online, I'm not sure whether he will have any acknowledgement of them having received it. I hope he does though - he's generally more sensible with money than I am so I can't see him having done something totally stupid.

The 'landlord' listed on the gas certificate may not be important but they just kept avoiding the question. We were only curious because his address was much nearer the property and if he actually is involved with it at all, perhaps he could have provided better answers on the Property Information Form. Every email from them was basically the same - a load of waffle followed by a request to get the survey carried out ASAP.

thequant

Eejay wrote: »

We'd better get it back. My husband was just asked to transfer the money to a bank account to have the property taken off the market - I don't think he had to sign anything and because he did it online, I'm not sure whether he will have any acknowledgement of them having received it. I hope he does though - he's generally more sensible with money than I am so I can't see him having done something totally stupid.

Jeez, this just gets worse and worse.


Please tell me at least you actually have some proof of them requesting the money ?

Eejay

It never occurred to me that it was weird, but I can see now they are probably going to cause trouble over it. He keeps all of his emails so I'm hoping they requested it that way or told him they'd received it. In the first few days, most communication was via phone but I really hope he has some evidence somewhere. Saying that, they must have sent him some bank details - hopefully that was via email.

They explained that the deposit was refundable and would be returned if the sale didn't go through, or be taken off the total at the end.

thequant

Eejay wrote: »

It never occurred to me that it was weird, but I can see now they are probably going to cause trouble over it. He keeps all of his emails so I'm hoping they requested it that way or told him they'd received it. In the first few days, most communication was via phone but I really hope he has some evidence somewhere. Saying that, they must have sent him some bank details - hopefully that was via email.

They explained that the deposit was refundable and would be returned if the sale didn't go through, or be taken off the total at the end.

It's totally non standard, and no doubt they will not hand it back quickly.


Get your husband to go through emails to find proof of the requested monies and proof of payment via his statements.


Then fire off that email and get rid of these shysters.


If they try to cling onto your money, then fire up another thread on here.


Getting money back off people is a lot easier than you think.

thequant

thequant wrote: »

It's totally non standard, and no doubt they will not hand it back quickly.


Get your husband to go through emails to find proof of the requested monies and proof of payment via his statements.


Then fire off that email and get rid of these shysters.


If they try to cling onto your money, then fire up another thread on here.


Getting money back off people is a lot easier than you think.

Slight correction to my above post, is there any T+C's attached to this holding deposit ?


Probably best to read the small print before going in all guns blazing.

Eejay

I will see what he says. I may be worrying unnecessarily about this one - he should be home in about half an hour so will get him to check.

Annie1960

Eejay wrote: »

On the plus side, if we do have any fees to pay they should easily be covered by the £500 refundable deposit we gave the EA and the £300 or so that's waiting at the solicitor to cover the searches, so it won't feel like we've really lost anything.

Deposit - what a cheek!

Which Ombudsman does your EA belong to?

See para 9 of the TPOS code of conduct regarding EAs taking deposits.

In your position, I would write to the EA saying:

Dear Mr EA

I have consulted the TPOS Code of Conduct, in particular para 9. I would like to request sight of your insurance relating to the holding of my deposit, as required by para 9b.

[Have they written to you as per para 9a?] If not, then I would include something to request information about where your deposit is being held, and what interest it is accruing, as required by paras 9a and 9c.

Yours sincerely

eejay


EDIT: http://www.tpos.co.uk/downloads/TPOE27-1%20Code%20of%20Practice%20for%20Residential%20Estate%20Agents%20(Effective%20from%201%20August%202011).PDF

Eejay

I will look into that, thanks I'm not sure whether there was any official request for it but my husband said he definitely had an email acknowledging the money.

The solicitor's colleague has basically told him not to bother speaking to them until he's spoken to the solicitor tomorrow (although I think he's just emailed and told them to speak to him via his solicitor from now on anyway) - they tried ringing him a short while ago so he put them straight through to Voicemail. They were asking again whether the mortgage had been sorted.

The solicitor's colleague also confirmed that the documents they had received had the pages missing too - the EA is very keen to blame them for anything and everything but the problem is clearly an issue at their end! (Either EA or vendor's solicitor).

jjlandlord

Annie1960 wrote: »

I have consulted the TPOS Code of Conduct, in particular para 9. I would like to request sight of your insurance relating to the holding of my deposit, as required by para 9b.

[Have they written to you as per para 9a?] If not, then I would include something to request information about where your deposit is being held, and what interest it is accruing, as required by paras 9a and 9c.

Yours sincerely

Also ask if they wash hands after going to the toilets when they are at work. That should properly scare them.

This is all a distraction.

You paid a deposit, which is refundable, so in time demand a refund (which the nice letter above does not even do).

Eejay

Phew - my husband has a letter confirming the EA received the deposit. Guess it'll not be so easy for them to keep it after all