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Letting agent charging for missed appointment

Hi wonder if anyone can help, my daughter had an inspection appointment for the flat she lets, she did say she would attend, at the last minute she couldn't for wjhatever reason.
She did have an email from the agent a week or so ago saying they would look around themselves with their master key, that's all fine. Because my daughter wasn't at the flat at the due time, he phoned her and said she would be charged £30 for missing the appointment.
Is this legal, possible?
thanks in advance
"All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest”
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Comments

  • Does it say anything in her lease?
    "I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together." Marilyn Monroe
  • to be honest i don't have possession of that at the moment, I doubt it very much, it says in her lease the property would be up to standard, she hasn't had a washing machine working for the entire 3 months she's been in the property due to issues with the seal, so sticking to a contract with the letting agent and landlord seems very one sided
    "All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest”
  • aneary
    aneary Posts: 921 Forumite
    Depends what was said.

    With my flat inspections I was never there and I said they could use their keys but I still had to confirm the day before that I wouldn't be there or I would be charged.
  • I totally agree it was impolite of my daughter to tell them she would not be attending, she in her 'youngsters' way thought that the email QUOTE:
    "You do not have to be at the appointment as we can use management keys.
    Please can you confirm that this date is ok for you and whether you will be at the appointment."
    would mean if she wasn't there he could just let himself in
    "All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest”
  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 10,907 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I totally agree it was impolite of my daughter to tell them she would not be attending, she in her 'youngsters' way thought that the email QUOTE:
    "You do not have to be at the appointment as we can use management keys.
    Please can you confirm that this date is ok for you and whether you will be at the appointment."
    would mean if she wasn't there he could just let himself in

    I'm far from being a youngster and I would interpret that the same way.

    Why do they think they need £30? Was it because they had to go back and collect their own keys? I'd have thought in the property inspection business this must happen often. I would learn that one quickly if I was a lettings agent and always take the keys.
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  • No i think they are A) trying it on or B) after she agreed to be there there was some legal reason why they couldn't go in on there own? or C) he couldn't be bothered to phone her until he got back to his office rather than when he was stood outside. Either way it could easily have been resolved with a quick phone call to ask where she was.
    TBH all of the dealings so far with Bridgford Lettings have been very poor. Even now he is refusing to take a phone call or reply to an email to try and resolve
    "All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest”
  • Comms69
    Comms69 Posts: 14,229 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    The answer is no. The reason is that the contract she has is with her landlord, not the agent.


    She cannot owe the agent anything.
  • That's interesting, but I'm sure the contract was through the letting agency, for am i misreading this totally?
    "All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest”
  • Comms69
    Comms69 Posts: 14,229 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    That's interesting, but I'm sure the contract was through the letting agency, for am i misreading this totally?



    Yes through the agent.


    Just like if I sell you a mobile phone contract, your contract is still with EE not with me (other networks available).


    The agent work for the Landlord. Your daughter does not have a contract with them.
  • ahh, that helps a great deal, many thanks for that
    "All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest”
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