agent gave keys to new tenant but still charge us rent

franklee

G_M wrote: »

By letting the tenants in to redecorate, the landlord/agent is facilitating the signing of a new tenancy, and thus reducing your liability. They are actually doing you a favour!

In that case they should have told the OP and got his agreement. I'd be mad as hell to walk in to a property I'm responsible for and find unknown persons in decorating especially if they're not professional decorators but the prospective tenant who may start living there. There are too many ways it could go bad if the prospective tenant mucks up, the OP's insurance is probably now void, the use of utilities, damaging the property, failing to sign the tenancy agreement or pay rent at all etc. As the outgoing tenant I'd not want to be responsible for all that.

Pixie5740

Maybe you should give Shelter a phone OP. I'd like to know their take on the situation.

franklee

Surely the correct way for the agent to have organised this is to say to the OP they've found a tenant who wants four rent free days to decorate before taking the tenancy. The OP could then have agreed to end the tenancy and pay an amount equivalent to four days rent to cover the extra void time and he would not be responsible for the property anymore. Really if the agent was acting honourably I see no reason not to end the OP's tenancy in that way. Instead they are using the property and have kept it from the OP which is underhand IMO.

bris

The tenancy is surrendered, handing back the keys has confirmed it.
Your only gripe is the utilities but even then the meter reading you took when you left will be all you need to pay so it won't cost you anyway, you did take readings didn't you?


It's unrealistic to not expect a down time of a few days to ready the house for the new tenants, just because they are doing it themselves makes no difference.

meercatsunited

Thank you all for taking the time to read and post.

Our problem has now been resolved via info. from Shelter and others.

All of the following is useful information for anyone in a similar situation.

We have discovered from a legal source an agent unequivocally ended the tenancy the very second they hand over the keys to the new tenant regardless of whether they had signed or not. And therefore our/your tenancy and obligations ended.

Second, from October 2014 all estate agents now have to register with one of the three Redress Schemes and you should ask which one they are signed up to but before contacting this government body you have to follow the agents complaints procedure. Google it for more info.

Pixie5740

Thanks for the update.

Now you just need to contact the council and utility companies to get your final bills for the property. As well as requesting your deposit back and hopefully it won't be long until you can put this farce behind you.

Guest101

meercatsunited wrote: »

Thank you all for taking the time to read and post.

Our problem has now been resolved via info. from Shelter and others. - Excellent, glad to hear it.

All of the following is useful information for anyone in a similar situation.

We have discovered from a legal source an agent unequivocally ended the tenancy the very second they hand over the keys to the new tenant regardless of whether they had signed or not.- Not true, as an agent cannot end a tenancy. And therefore our/your tenancy and obligations ended.

Second, from October 2014 all estate agents now have to register with one of the three Redress Schemes and you should ask which one they are signed up to but before contacting this government body you have to follow the agents complaints procedure. Google it for more info.

Glad to hear it.