Rental agency undertook work without permission

bucski

Hi
I let a flat via a rental agency. Recently they informed me they had commissioned an electrical check at a cost of £140 and then replaced 3 mains fire detectors at a cost of £150 plus vat of £58, so £348 in total.
The issue is they never asked permission from me to undertake the work. The electrical check is, as I understand, advisable but not mandatory. (property is 10 years old) and as for the fire detectors I'm sure I could have done the job myself, you can pick up mains detectors for around £10 a piece.
I feel I am being charged a premium for this work, I wasn't asked for permission to do it and I could have done a lot of it myself and almost certainly have found someone cheaper to do the electrical check should I have wished it to be done.
The rental agency want to charge me the full amount and I am not happy about this. What do you think and where do I stand legally?
Many thanks

tomtontom

What does your contract say?

HappyMJ

bucski wrote: »

Hi
I let a flat via a rental agency. Recently they informed me they had commissioned an electrical check at a cost of £140 and then replaced 3 mains fire detectors at a cost of £150 plus vat of £58, so £348 in total.
The issue is they never asked permission from me to undertake the work. The electrical check is, as I understand, advisable but not mandatory. (property is 10 years old) and as for the fire detectors I'm sure I could have done the job myself, you can pick up mains detectors for around £10 a piece.
I feel I am being charged a premium for this work, I wasn't asked for permission to do it and I could have done a lot of it myself and almost certainly have found someone cheaper to do the electrical check should I have wished it to be done.
The rental agency want to charge me the full amount and I am not happy about this. What do you think and where do I stand legally?
Many thanks

If you've allowed them to fully manage the property then it's likely your contract does say that they can do that.

You can terminate the fully managed agreement and manage it yourself from now on. My bet is that they'll come to an agreement to prevent that.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Check your contract with them, carefully - that will tell you whether or not you are liable for this.


As it sounds like you don't need them and can undertake/assign work yourself, get rid of the agent and save yourself the 10% annual fee or whatever it is.

bucski

Not sure if contract says fully managed. They did say they thought they had asked permission from me for the work to be done and then found they hadn't and apologised for this. Not sure if that suggests it isn't fully managed.
Anyway, I have emailed them and asked for a copy of the contract.
Many thanks

Guest101

bucski wrote: »

Not sure if contract says fully managed. They did say they thought they had asked permission from me for the work to be done and then found they hadn't and apologised for this. Not sure if that suggests it isn't fully managed.
Anyway, I have emailed them and asked for a copy of the contract.
Many thanks

What do you mean emailed them and asked for a copy? Where's YOUR copy??

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Guest101 wrote: »

What do you mean emailed them and asked for a copy? Where's YOUR copy??

Maybe they've lost it?

bucski

Fair point, I should have a copy, but been with them for 10 years or so, so not sure where it is.

marksoton

bucski wrote: »

Fair point, I should have a copy, but been with them for 10 years or so, so not sure where it is.

Problem is they could now send you anything.....

eddddy

Guest101 wrote: »

What do you mean emailed them and asked for a copy? Where's YOUR copy??

... and you should have read it before signing. Checking that you're happy with the agent's expenditure limit is fairly important - because it's a bit like signing a blank cheque.

bucski

marksoton wrote: »

Problem is they could now send you anything.....

They must have a copy of the contract that I have signed. They can't just send me anything.