Rented a filthy house with someone else's furniture in it...

sheff6107

They’re trying to deny we were told not to pay the rent for that month and they’re making out it’s not their fault that the property wasn’t inspected prior to us moving in. They’re also denying they ever said it would be cleaned.

You've fallen into the trap of a) withholding rent and b) not getting things in writing. And now you're being screwed over by the lettings agent.

From the landlord's point of view his new tenant has not paid the rent because the lettings agent aren't going to tell their customer they're to blame.

For a lettings agent to say "we never said we'd clean it" is the same as saying "we happily rent out filthy properties" so they're telling big porkies.

I'd make sure you're paid up and up to date with everything. Then you can either live with it, or put your complaint in writing to the lettings agent and pursue them for compensation.

But the usual thing people do in these situations is to become the tenant from hell and start complaining to the lettings agent about every tiny thing that goes wrong.

EmPhoenix

Yeah I do agree there's no reason to withhold the rent. I don't trust the letting agent's interactions with the landlord though. Please bear in mind it took the landlord at least 7 days to reply to any email that was sent, or at least the letting agents told us it did, so a lot of the time was time spent waiting for further instruction, rather than 'withholding'. I'm happy to pay the landlord the reduced amount and I'm not fussed about that. I'm bothered about the way the agents have treated us. You guys are saying they haven't sold us anything and they're not liable for anything - is the advice from citizens advice incorrect then? They don't have to tell us basic stuff about the property we'd probably like to know? I'm so confused.

stator

Put in an official complaint IN WRITING to the letting agent about THEIR conduct. Then escape it to the property ombudsmen.

Never ever ever believe anything a letting agent tell you. Always get everything in writing.

If you want to stay in the place pay the rent on time. You are on to a loser here I'm afraid. The letting agents obviously know you don't have anything in writing so will just lie through their teeth.

Guest101

EmPhoenix wrote: »

Yeah I do agree there's no reason to withhold the rent. I don't trust the letting agent's interactions with the landlord though. Please bear in mind it took the landlord at least 7 days to reply to any email that was sent, or at least the letting agents told us it did, so a lot of the time was time spent waiting for further instruction, rather than 'withholding'. I'm happy to pay the landlord the reduced amount and I'm not fussed about that. I'm bothered about the way the agents have treated us. You guys are saying they haven't sold us anything and they're not liable for anything - is the advice from citizens advice incorrect then? They don't have to tell us basic stuff about the property we'd probably like to know? I'm so confused.

Consumer rights only apply to the fees the agent charges you directly. They don't sell you a tenancy, they sell you the right to apply (basically)

AdrianC

EmPhoenix wrote: »

They don't have to tell us basic stuff about the property we'd probably like to know?

What are you suggesting they withheld from you?

You knew the place was not clean.
There's dispute over whether they told you it would be cleaned or not - it's reasonable to assume it would and should have been cleaned, but was the failure deliberate or an error?
They've accepted that the place should have been cleared of furniture - and they've agreed to reimburse your costs. This suggests that the failure to clean was an error, not deliberate.

You're suggesting they deliberately misinformed you, but their actions suggest mere incompetence in failing to check the property and ensure it was ready.

At the end of the day, the agent works for the landlord, and it's not your choice to fire them or continue to use them. Your choice is limited to whether to stay in the property or move out once your initial term ends.

stator wrote: »

Put in an official complaint IN WRITING to the letting agent about THEIR conduct.

The OP already has, and the agent have agreed to reduce future fees.

EmPhoenix

They agreed to reduce the renewal fee once by 50%, yes.

EmPhoenix

I was trying to be a jokey when I made this post so when I said 'grim' it wasn't really that bad when we looked around. We didn't look in the toilets or behind the shower screen or under the fridge or behind the sofas. All of the tenants stuff was in the house when we looked around so a lot of it was hidden by furniture.

Guest101

EmPhoenix wrote: »

I was trying to be a jokey when I made this post so when I said 'grim' it wasn't really that bad when we looked around. We didn't look in the toilets or behind the shower screen or under the fridge or behind the sofas. All of the tenants stuff was in the house when we looked around so a lot of it was hidden by furniture.

Who's fault is that then?

EmPhoenix

No, I don't agree that I was overreacting. We took photos and forwarded them to the letting agents. I was trying to make this post lighthearded.

BangBangBoom

Just wanted to send you a quick message of support- my partner and I were in a very similar situation and we didn't manage to get any resolution. Basically had to learn the lesson that, when renting, get EVERYTHING in writing! Letting agents promised everything would be fine, we moved in then the landlord was (in some ways understandably) not interested. Sorry to hear about it, I know just how stressful it is! Chin up. You won't make the same mistake again.