Agent trying to charge for work without consent

ukjon77

Hi
I am a landlord of a fully managed property. The agent has sent me an invoice for works that I was completely unaware of and would not have authorised had I known. The charge is extortionate and I could've done these works myself for a fraction of the cost. The invoice is the first I've heard of it - the agent expects me to pay.
What are my rights and options?
Thanks

nidO

Read your contract with your agent, it's quite possible you authorised them to carry out work up to a certain cost without needing approval.

Guest101

What does your contract say?

Pricivius

I had this issue with an Agency once. My contract with them allowed them to carry out works up to £150 without my express authorisation, so, as nidO and Guest101 have suggested, check this first.

The Agency then carried out works which I had expressly refused permission for them to do and sent me the invoice. I refused to pay it. They cancelled the contract. So, I didn't have to pay the invoice for the work I expressly did not authorise, but I was left with the work carried out and having to find a new Agent.

I seem to recall a recent case where a well-known agency were found to have added on a large fee for instructing the contractor to do the work, thus bumping up the invoice to the Landlord. Check to see if the fee you are being charged went straight to the contractor or if the Agency are taking a cut.

AdrianC

Your property is fully managed. The people you pay to manage it are managing it.

Are you suggesting that the management the managers are managing is outside your cotnract with them somehow?

G_M

What are the terms of your fully managed contract? I can't read them from here.

See also:

* Letting agents: how should a landlord select or sack?

ukjon77

Thank you all for your replies.

This is a bit frustrating because my partner cannot find our contract with the agency (it's her flat), so I'm waiting for the agency to send us a copy (they're not responding to that request either).

However, I don't recall seeing anything about them being able to authorise works up to a set amount in the contract, so if it isn't there, do I just point this out and tell them that they foot the bill?

If they can authorise, they're trying to charge us £200 for replacing a toilet seat. I'm going to request a receipt for the cost of the seat from the contractor (if I can ever get hold of him). What can I do about extortionate charges as it clearly is not a £200 job...?

Thanks again!

Gigervamp

£200 to replace a toilet seat? :eek:

No wonder you're mad at them!

Guest101

Well u tell them to take u to court.

Serve notice to end the contract.

Tell tenants to pay you directly.

theartfullodger

I'd be very very very surprised to find they don't have some authority to act up to some limit.. My agent takes decisions they think sensible - I've never needed to question any in 9 years of management, including some bills of over £500: But £200 for a bog-seat?? Bog-*ff I'd say, fire them and self-manage or get a better agent.

Actually, get copies of all paperwork FIRST, then instruct tenant to pay you direct & when they've started doing that, then fire them: Otherwise agent has control & your money.

Simply ask, calmly & politely, for a copy of the tradesman's invoice: Then contact tradesman & ask if the numbers & right...

I'f it's partner's flat presumably she is named as landlord & you have no standing in the matter??

alexjonsson

I'm surprised a contractor was engaged to replace a toilet seat. If the tenant broke it, then surely they would have to replace it or have the amount taken from their deposit at the end?

As a tenant, I'd be embarrassed to ask my landlord (or their agent) to replace a toilet seat!