Letting agent change

HisokaM

Hi all,
An odd one here. At the start of the month the standing order that pays our rent (rented property, myself and partner on contract) bounced, talked to the bank and was told it was because the other account either no longer existed or was closed.
So I tried to call the only phone number we have for the letting agents, and that had a "this number is no longer in service". Tried to email and that bounced back too. Finally tried to go by their office, which was with white washed windows and "to let" sign.
We have no address or contact for the landlord, the original landlord passed on last year and all we got for any contact about it from the letting agents was "the family has taken over ownership".
So we were lost, put the rent aside in a saving account to show it is still there.
Finally got an email stating "You may have noticed the payment failed, please use the below account instead. Also come into our offices to renew tenancy agreement." Well the account was for an unknown bank, also the company name was very different to the one we had been paying previously. I checked the signature for the person who sent the email and it still had the old phone number and address on it.
I queried this and they say they had moved sites. Checking out the new address mentioned it is a totally different company.
I still haven't arranged payment, as at this time I don't know 100% this is all above board and without having a contact for the landlord I don't even know who to talk to to verify this.
Can anyone give advice what I should do legally now?
Thanks for any feedback.

G_M

* what is the name of the landlord on your tenancy agreement?
* what address is given on the tenancy agreement for "the serving of notices"? If you have not been given an address for this you do not have to pay rent.

Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 section 48

48 Notification by landlord of address for service of notices.

(1)A landlord of premises to which this Part applies shall by notice furnish the tenant with an address in England and Wales at which notices (including notices in proceedings) may be served on him by the tenant.

(2)Where a landlord of any such premises fails to comply with subsection (1), any rent or service charge otherwise due from the tenant to the landlord shall (subject to subsection (3)) be treated for all purposes as not being due from the tenant to the landlord at any time before the landlord does comply with that subsection.

I would be very wary about paying a new person or new bank, without confirmaton in writing (letter) from the landlord.

You could pay £3 to the land Registry to confirm the name of the owner of the property (and with luck, his address, though it might be your home!).

You could use the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 to ask the agent for the LL's name/address:

1 Disclosure of landlord’s identity.

(1)If the tenant of premises occupied as a dwelling makes a written request for the landlord’s name and address to—

(a)any person who demands, or the last person who received, rent payable under the tenancy, or

(b)any other person for the time being acting as agent for the landlord, in relation to the tenancy,

that person shall supply the tenant with a written statement of the landlord’s name and address within the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which he receives the request.

(2)A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (1) commits a summary offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

In the meantime, until you are completely satisfied, i should politely advise the agent you are setting the rent aside (do not spend it!).

HisokaM

Thanks for that, I was thinking similar but had nothing to back it up. I will be writing to them accordingly.