Estate Agent has emptied my flat

Pixie5740

Yes I think you should try and get a crime reference number for this sooner rather than later. That will show the landlord and letting agent you are serious about this.

getmore4less

Should have done that(go to police) first BEFORE going to the agents.

greensalad

Some universities actually have law clinics. My old uni had one. Free advice and you are helped out by the law lecturers and then the students to the admin work.

But still, I would make a non-urgent police complaint. Someone went into your home and now items are missing.

duchy

I don't understand why the OP doesn't want to go to the Police either but if she won't at this point perhaps she needs her options spelt out by a third party with an understanding of the law (and she can't/doesn't want to pay for a solicitor so this route might get her access to a law centre too possibly as a London uni law lecturer is likely to have useful contacts.

(If she does go to the police and isn't assertive there is a good possibility they'll tell her it's civil not criminal anyway and try and fob her off)

PasturesNew

If goods are left, they have a legal duty to retain them and make them available for you to collect. This is something the cleaner should have known and the agent.

I doubt you're "that bothered" about stuff .... just your sentimental items that can't be replaced. Sentimental items might be a 50p ornament, but it's got history.

I'd want the cleaner and agent frog marched to the tip to sift through the rubbish until they got it all back. I know that it's possible to trace a load - I saw something in the news where somebody's stuff had gone and the council knew which van had emptied the bins, which tip that van had gone to, at what time, which "hole in the ground" it was tipped into. The bloke went out there looking for it. (Must have been a winning lottery ticket or something).

Vectis

Hilly1990 wrote: »

As it was mostly clothes and my spare laptop, books and a few other small things she said they were disposed in the bin which has now been emptied.

Hmm, it was frozen food that was mentioned in the first post, then by post 9 it had become 'sentimental items' and now in post 43 a laptop was taken.

I'm not disputing what happened but if you're gradually inflating the number and values of items claimed in letters and emails to the EA as well as on here, then it's no wonder they might be slightly suspicious and only offer you £100 as a goodwill gesture.

Yes, from what you have said, they are in the wrong but you will need evidence that you actually had all the items you are claiming for. It's also slightly odd that you have no contents insurance to cover these and seem to be ignoring all advice to at least get a crime number from the police.

Or...alternative scenario, did the EA mistakenly get the property cleaned etc and you, rightly, took exception to this when you are still a tenant and have decided you want 'compensation' (which you've mentioned a couple of times, I think) and think you can do this by making a claim for lost items? Just asking. If I'm wrong go to the police with a list of the items and values plus receipts or even photos to show you actually had them.

Don't take offence, but I can't see the logic of mentioning frozen food being taken and 'forgetting' to mention the sentimental items or even a computer!

quidsy

In the op the poster states


"i left several items in the flat alongside a freezer full of food which i decided i'd to move at a later date"


so clearly did mention other items, just didn't elaborate on what they were.

Hilly1990

So having contacted Shelter this morning and going of there advice i've done the following, sent a final letter to the ES (letter before action) and also made a complaint to The property Ombudsman. I did ask them about contacting the police but they didn't think it would help my case in receiving compensation so told me to leave it.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Hilly1990 wrote: »

I did ask them about contacting the police but they didn't think it would help my case in receiving compensation so told me to leave it.

Well, my flabber is well and truly gasted.


A crime has been committed. Yes they probably won't investigate, but they will fob you off with a crime number. This could be crucial later on, you never know. You'll have to go down the civil route to get your money back, but a judge may well ask "Why didn't you go to the police?"


It may not help your case, but it definitely won't hinder it.

Stevie_Palimo

Informing the Police is a must and if you choose not to do so then be prepared for a loss here, It will take you ten minutes to make a call about or visit a station and having this with a crime reference will back up 100% any legal challenge made via the Courts.