Letting agent from hell - landlord not much better

doverdover

Thank you - I have a huge number of pictures from when we moved in - and have sent further pictures to the agent while we have been there (e.g. mould growing!).

All of these are timestamped - should I be sending these to the council too?

doverdover

How will the council assist you in getting the landlord's details? Is this offshore company the entity that is named as your landlord in your tenancy agreement.

I've been sending the letters to the address, which is a c/o a solicitors. There is no other details

What has the letting agent done that you believe is illegal?

They are managing the property, and have never been to it. They haven't visited to inspect any of the works. They won't - they say it's 'not how their model works'. This means no one has actually looked at the property, apart from us (who are being ignored). It seems crazy this could be allowed.

You haven't requested the landlord's contact details in writing, as in a letter, yet.

I have sent a letter to both the letting agent, and the c/o address mentioned above.

Quite rightly the letting agency won't go ahead with repairs without the landlord's approval.

They had agreed the works, and the contractor was booked in. I had taken the day off work. Then they changed their mind. This was confirmed before we even signed a contract. I also have that in writing.

Remember that the only contract the letting agent has is with the landlord. It's the landlord who is responsible for carrying out the necessary repairs.

The letting agent manage the property - the landlord has nothing to do with it, as far as I can tell. The agent, in managing the property, surely has some obligation to ensure the property is kept in a decent condition?

If you are unhappy with the conduct of the letting agency then follow their complaints procedure and if you're still not satisfied escalate your complaint to whichever redress scheme the letting agency is registered with.

This I will do.

I'm surprised that if the damp is as bad as you say that you didn't smell it when viewing the property.

It was summer when we viewed, the windows were open etc. It's only been since we moved in that it has become really apparent.

Pixie5740

You are contradicting yourself now. Previously you stated that you had sent numerous emails requesting the landlord's contact details. Now it transpires you have actually sent a letter requesting the information. How long ago did you send the letter?

You still haven't said who or what is named as your landlord in your tenancy agreement. I'm not talking about the address for the serving of notices I'm talking about the landlord's name be it a company or an individual.

The letting agency doesn't have to inspect the property. It could well be that their contract with the landlord doesn't include inspections. There's no law requiring a landlord or agent acting on his behalf to inspect the properties being let.

The letting agency has no legal obligation to you or to ensure repairs are carried out. That responsibility rests solely on the landlord's shoulders unless the landlord has given the agent carte blanche to carry out the repairs which is highly unlikely. The letting agent isn't going to risk having to pay money out to contractors not knowing if the landlord will pay up.

Marvel1

I hope you have kep a copy of everything you sent, it would not surprise me if they want to keep your deposit to sort out these issues when you leave.

doverdover

Thank you cjdavies - I have done, yes.

Quite a low of the issues were picked up by the inventory - things which weren't visible e.g. floor mould weren't, but then of course they weren't trying to look under the floorboards!