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What would you do in this scenario?
swingaloo
Posts: 3,528 Forumite
Our friends are moving from a rented property into another rental tomorrow. They have paid the bond and the first months rent is due to be paid tomorrow.
When they first looked at the property they noticed a lot of rubbish left behind by the previous tenant who moved out last December.
The agent assured them that it would all be moved and the house would be cleaned before they moved in.
All 4 bedrooms looked as if they had just taken the beds and left everything else. Rubbish was strewn all over in each room. They could see past the state of the rooms as the house itself is in a lovely spot and has a large garage which was a 'must' for them.
They had a second viewing 2 weeks later and said they would like to take the house but they noticed that no rubbish had been removed since their first visit but were once again assured all would gone before they moved in.
The agent said they could have a key a week before moving in so they could do some much needed painting and decorating.
When they got the key last week after paying the deposit they found once again that nothing had been moved so straight away got onto the agent. Even old dilapidated wardrobes had been left in the bedrooms. They needed to paint and put wallpaper up so the agent asked them to bring all the rubbish downstairs and put it in the garage and they would arrange someone to collect it.
Despite not being happy about having to do it themselves they did as the agent asked and added it to what had already been left in the garage.
The garage is three quarters full from floor to ceiling with rubbish. Broken furniture, old carpets, childrens toys, black bags of rubbish etc plus down the side of the house there is a shed which has rotted and the roof has gone off it. this is also full of wet carpet, what looks like a rowing machine, bags of rubbish, 2 BBQs and all manner of things but it is all rotten as its been wet through.
The agent had promised that this too would be gone.
Every day this week they have been into the agents pushing to get some action on removing it all but have met with excuses.
The agent says that they had to give the previous tenant 2 weeks to collect it before they could dispose of it all. (They have been gone since before xmas).
Today they have been into the agents and told them that it was imperative that the garage was emptied today as when they move tomorrow they have a garage full of things they need to move from the previous house. They have to have that cleared tomorrow. Last weekend the agents turned up with someone to look at the job but he quoted £300 which the agent said she could not authorise as it was too much. She told my friends she would get another quote.
Today the agent told them that the problem was that the money for the clearance had to come out of the previous tenants bond and that because it is held by one of the bond companies they could not access it without the tenant agreeing to it.
They have had 5 months to get the place sorted and it should have been done before the property was advertised.
To make things worse the house has a very small kitchen and so the washing machine and the upright fridge freezer will be going in the garage and there is simply no room.
Its like banging your head against a wall talking to the agents. I went in there today with my friend and I asked the agent how she would feel if she were moving into that house tomorrow. She simply shrugged and said she wouldn't like it but there is nothing they can do because they are waiting for the previous tenant to agree to part of his bond being used. (Even though he has been gone 5 months).
The moving date tomorrow has been agreed for the last five weeks so they have had time to sort it. They have to go in the morning to sign the contract and have to be out of their house by 4pm and no way on this earth will they be able to get everything into the new house because of how much has been left.
Obviously they had to give a months notice on their current house so they have to be out tomorrow.
I'm at a loss as to what to suggest to them, we don't have a garage so I cant even help them by storing anything for them.
Any opinions or suggestions on how to handle the estate agents?
Thank you for reading.
When they first looked at the property they noticed a lot of rubbish left behind by the previous tenant who moved out last December.
The agent assured them that it would all be moved and the house would be cleaned before they moved in.
All 4 bedrooms looked as if they had just taken the beds and left everything else. Rubbish was strewn all over in each room. They could see past the state of the rooms as the house itself is in a lovely spot and has a large garage which was a 'must' for them.
They had a second viewing 2 weeks later and said they would like to take the house but they noticed that no rubbish had been removed since their first visit but were once again assured all would gone before they moved in.
The agent said they could have a key a week before moving in so they could do some much needed painting and decorating.
When they got the key last week after paying the deposit they found once again that nothing had been moved so straight away got onto the agent. Even old dilapidated wardrobes had been left in the bedrooms. They needed to paint and put wallpaper up so the agent asked them to bring all the rubbish downstairs and put it in the garage and they would arrange someone to collect it.
Despite not being happy about having to do it themselves they did as the agent asked and added it to what had already been left in the garage.
The garage is three quarters full from floor to ceiling with rubbish. Broken furniture, old carpets, childrens toys, black bags of rubbish etc plus down the side of the house there is a shed which has rotted and the roof has gone off it. this is also full of wet carpet, what looks like a rowing machine, bags of rubbish, 2 BBQs and all manner of things but it is all rotten as its been wet through.
The agent had promised that this too would be gone.
Every day this week they have been into the agents pushing to get some action on removing it all but have met with excuses.
The agent says that they had to give the previous tenant 2 weeks to collect it before they could dispose of it all. (They have been gone since before xmas).
Today they have been into the agents and told them that it was imperative that the garage was emptied today as when they move tomorrow they have a garage full of things they need to move from the previous house. They have to have that cleared tomorrow. Last weekend the agents turned up with someone to look at the job but he quoted £300 which the agent said she could not authorise as it was too much. She told my friends she would get another quote.
Today the agent told them that the problem was that the money for the clearance had to come out of the previous tenants bond and that because it is held by one of the bond companies they could not access it without the tenant agreeing to it.
They have had 5 months to get the place sorted and it should have been done before the property was advertised.
To make things worse the house has a very small kitchen and so the washing machine and the upright fridge freezer will be going in the garage and there is simply no room.
Its like banging your head against a wall talking to the agents. I went in there today with my friend and I asked the agent how she would feel if she were moving into that house tomorrow. She simply shrugged and said she wouldn't like it but there is nothing they can do because they are waiting for the previous tenant to agree to part of his bond being used. (Even though he has been gone 5 months).
The moving date tomorrow has been agreed for the last five weeks so they have had time to sort it. They have to go in the morning to sign the contract and have to be out of their house by 4pm and no way on this earth will they be able to get everything into the new house because of how much has been left.
Obviously they had to give a months notice on their current house so they have to be out tomorrow.
I'm at a loss as to what to suggest to them, we don't have a garage so I cant even help them by storing anything for them.
Any opinions or suggestions on how to handle the estate agents?
Thank you for reading.
0
Comments
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Have they contacted the Landlord?
I think they are going to have to do it themselves and claim back the money.
I can't believe they have spent money decorating etc without a contract
and I cannot believe a reputable agency would give somebodys house keys to complete strangers who don't have a contract0 -
They could try contacting the landlord rather than the agents?0
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Is it a chain of agents? You could phone the head office. If not, have you spoken to the manager? Escalate it as far up as you can. I'd put it in writing too so there is evidence. Send it recorded.
If not a chain I'd go to the office and make it clear, enough is enough. They have had time to tidy it and shouldn't be letting out property that's not habitable. If they knew about the bond issue with the previous tenants they shouldn't have agreed to let the place until that was sorted.
Apart from that I'm not sure. You could look on the shelter website, there is great info on there.0 -
The estate agent is part of a large chain and they were happy to give them the key so they could decorate once the bond was paid.
My friends had no reason to doubt the agent when they said they would move everything before the moving in date.
They don't know who the landlord is. This is one of the things I asked today when I went in with her. I said to the agent that surely the landlord would not be happy at the way they had let the previous tenant leave the house and also that they were letting the landlord down if this was the service they were giving to his tenants.
She refused to say who the landlord was (We deal with things for him!) however I told my friend that I'm pretty sure the landlords name and address should be on the contract when they come to sign it.
Ive already said that once they get the landlords name they aught to contact him and let him know how his agents are handling his property.0 -
Fireflyaway wrote: »Is it a chain of agents? You could phone the head office. If not, have you spoken to the manager? Escalate it as far up as you can. I'd put it in writing too so there is evidence. Send it recorded.
If not a chain I'd go to the office and make it clear, enough is enough. They have had time to tidy it and shouldn't be letting out property that's not habitable. If they knew about the bond issue with the previous tenants they shouldn't have agreed to let the place until that was sorted.
Apart from that I'm not sure. You could look on the shelter website, there is great info on there.[/QUOTE
Thanks for the reply. Its the office manager they have been dealing with but I will pass on the point about head office. It doesn't help that its no also a Bank Holiday weekend.
They have been in the office every single day this week pushing to get them moving. Today when the agent said that the first quote was too expensive at £300 I asked why it was a problem if they still held the £800 bond but she just shrugged and said that they didn't hold the bond.
Doesn't bode well for the future.0 -
Doesn't bode well for the future.
No.... but least they know they can leave it a state and get off scott free
Landlord details should be made available. Make sure they take photos etc and then contact the LL Directly.
Think I would also get something in writing the agent on the day of signing - and have it all noted on the inventory- and photographed that it was there and will be moved.0 -
HampshireH wrote: »No.... but least they know they can leave it a state and get off scott free
Landlord details should be made available. Make sure they take photos etc and then contact the LL Directly.
Think I would also get something in writing the agent on the day of signing - and have it all noted on the inventory- and photographed that it was there and will be moved.
Thank you for the reply. Ive taken lots of photos for them as I feel the landlord should be aware of what his representatives are charging him for.0
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