letting agents and refurbishing a property

starving_artist

I have a rental property in desperate need of refurbishment. The problem is I live in a different part of the country and although I've had it for quite a few years I always seem to have trouble finding reliable local tradesmen when I've needed things fixing. It's now reached the stage where it needs a major overhaul and I just can't see how I will be able to find the people and manage the works from a distance. Has anyone had experience of allowing a letting agent take over the refurbishment of their property and how does it work in terms of charges for this kind of service?

Cornucopia

I've never undertaken a refurbishment this way (didn't even think it was possible), but I have often used tradespeople recommended by Agents, and generally this has worked well in terms of work getting done properly and at a reasonable cost.

What's the extent of the work?

My2Cents

We have had experience of an Agent organising a renovation on behalf of a LL. I am a tenant who moved into a supposedly refurbished place which had not been checked properly and has all sorts of ongoing problems related to the renovation. The Letting Agent's relative who is a builder, did the work and the LA has not disclosed this to us, we were informed by neighbour. Not sure if the LL knows about the family connection. As many problems continue to be revealed since day one of our moving in (too many to mention, including a flood caused by dodgy plumbing), the Letting Agent tries to cover up for his relative's shoddy work and pretends problems are new issues unconnected to the renovation.

The LL did not properly inspect and snag the building work post-renovation, and clearly no-one supervised during the works process. It has left us as tenants with 9 months (and counting) of constant disturbance from rectifying works on a property we rented in good faith as completely renovated. The LL continues to allow this LA to "manage" the property despite everything.

The Agent's "maintenance team" who we have nicknamed Bodgitt and Run, are unreliable, disrespectful/bullying to us as tenants, and cause damage each time they try and fix something. They are well known in the area by the local tradespeople who have to rectify many of their "repairs". I hope you have a different experience if you go down this road.

phill99

starving_artist wrote: »

I have a rental property in desperate need of refurbishment. The problem is I live in a different part of the country and although I've had it for quite a few years I always seem to have trouble finding reliable local tradesmen when I've needed things fixing. It's now reached the stage where it needs a major overhaul and I just can't see how I will be able to find the people and manage the works from a distance. Has anyone had experience of allowing a letting agent take over the refurbishment of their property and how does it work in terms of charges for this kind of service?

Why use a letting agent to manage your refurb? Most agents don'k know one end if a screwdriver from the other. I wouldn't trust a major asset to letting agents.

You would be better employing a bullder to project manage the refurb who liases directly with you. You don't need to have a presence their as you can communicae via facetime, skype etc.

If you identify your location, someone maybe able to offer a recommendation

starving_artist

Sorry to hear about your experience My2Cents. I really want to avoid something like that. We won't be doing the work until the property is empty though as it's going to involve new bathrooms, kitchen and redecoration.

As I've said part of the problem is that - inspite of asking around for recommendations - my own attempts to find reliable local tradesmen have not been successful in the past.

My2Cents

The property was empty when they did the refurb here, went over the timescale and budget (possibly normal situation, not sure). We moved in after it was supposedly complete. The problems related to shoddy work, appeared from day one of the tenancy and continue.


I appreciate your problem with distance, but I would in no way trust a LA organise anything more than very basic repairs (and even then the work needs to be checked carefully). Just based on our experience as a tenant.


Good luck.

phill99

starving_artist wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your experience My2Cents. I really want to avoid something like that. We won't be doing the work until the property is empty though as it's going to involve new bathrooms, kitchen and redecoration.

As I've said part of the problem is that - inspite of asking around for recommendations - my own attempts to find reliable local tradesmen have not been successful in the past.

So where are you? Somebody may ge able to help.

ognum

I am currently refurbishing a new rental I have bought, so far;

kitchen took twice as long to come as predicted
Tiler was taken ill, couldn't come
Plumber had van broken into and tools stolen

So it's been a long slow process and I have been here checking on it all the way.

I think you need an I put even if you only visit at weekends!

starving_artist

phill99 wrote: »

So where are you? Somebody may ge able to help.

West Yorkshire