Letting agent being unethical?

Brickwall

I'm asking this on behalf of someone else.

Someone I know has been reporting tenants to the letting agent, the letting agent in turn has been telling the tenants exactly what's been said, it's clear, by what the letting agent has said, who has made the complaint. I wouldn't have thought this was ethical, but, is it legal for the letting agent to have done this?

Thanks.

AdrianC

So "your friend" is making complaints that couldn't possibly have come from anybody else (immediate neighbour?) - and is surprised that the agent is asking tenants about their side, rather than just taking "your friend's" word for it...?

mrginge

Of course it is legal.

Kynthia

What law do you think the letting agent has broken??? Why would your friend think anything they told the letting agent was in confidence or that your friend's word would mean more than the tenant's over the situation? I would hope your friend had already tried to resolve any issue directly with the tenants before going elsewhere so it shouldn't be a surprise to them.

Brickwall

The tenants are a problem family, I did advise trying to get on friendly terms with them, I warned them to be very careful in making complaints, it's fell on deaf ears and it's starting to look like world war three is going to break out.

As far as I can make out they say they were told that any complaints were made in confidence.

AdrianC

The person hasn't been explicitly identified, so they are in confidence.

You really do seem to expect that the complaints would be taken at face value, with no right to explain or reply. Would you like it if that was the other way round?

Miss_Samantha

AdrianC wrote: »

The person hasn't been explicitly identified, so they are in confidence.

When you agree to be told something in confidence you should be more careful than that. Without identifying the person if you discuss the matter in a way that makes who the person is obvious then you are also breaking your word.

I wouldn't expect a letting agent to be either subtle enough, or to care about his word.

TBagpuss

How would you, or your friend, expect the letting agent to do anything without raising the fact that complaints had been made? What were you expecting them to do?

csgohan4

Toys being thrown out of the pram, both sides are in the wrong

Brickwall

TBagpuss wrote: »

How would you, or your friend, expect the letting agent to do anything without raising the fact that complaints had been made? What were you expecting them to do?

I wasn't expecting them to do anything because it's nothing to do with me, I did warn them to be very careful in making complaints.