Ridiculous estate agent / landlord?

theone999

I'm probably leaving where I am after 11 months, because I feel like I'm on the end of a witch hunt. So, they've asked me to pay in 6 months blocks, signing a new tenancy each time (as well as paying an "admin fee" each time) because they want proof of earnings above £15k (I'm self employed with accountant, and Im not rich either). They refused me to pay monthly after 6 month AST and demand I sign new tenancy or be evicted.

They've insisted on full house inspection every 3 months. For the last one, the guy came an hour early when I was still tidying and said I failed even though he came earlier than he was supposed to. He also said the garden was overgrown, that was fair enough.

So he comes back again after I've cut the grass and said I did a bad job. Not sure what he's expecting when no equipment is provided and I can only afford a push one. Then he also says there are weeds in the bushes / thorns / thickets, I'm no gardener, to me they all green, so again, I pluck out the one he says are weed.

Then today estate agent gives me a photo of the garden that must have been 5 years old says it's "inventory picture" of when I moved in, which is !!!!!!!! as they can't prove it with date stamp and demand it looks like that, apparently at the insistence of the landlord, who doesn't even live in England anymore.

It's the first time I've ever rented a house by myself and gone through an estate agent. Does it all sound like a bit of a nightmare estate agent / landlord? The estate agent also apparently has a problem with me putting boxes in the hallway / kitchen even though I live alone, rented an unfurnished house and don't cook because apparently it's "unsightly" and "normal people's homes don't look like that". They can't say it's a safety hazard because no path is blocked, but apparently they want me "explain it to the landlord"

Presumably if I want to leave now they're gonna have a go and trying to keep my deposit for the garden?

Comms69

theone999 wrote: »

I'm probably leaving where I am after 11 months, because I feel like I'm on the end of a witch hunt. So, they've asked me to pay in 6 months blocks, signing a new tenancy each time (as well as paying an "admin fee" each time) because they want proof of earnings above £15k (I'm self employed with accountant, and Im not rich either). They refused me to pay monthly after 6 month AST and demand I sign new tenancy or be evicted.

They've insisted on full house inspection every 3 months. For the last one, the guy came an hour early when I was still tidying and said I failed even though he came earlier than he was supposed to. He also said the garden was overgrown, that was fair enough. - You cant fail an inspection. What are you a child? tell them to leave.

So he comes back again after I've cut the grass and said I did a bad job. Not sure what he's expecting when no equipment is provided and I can only afford a push one. Then he also says there are weeds in the bushes / thorns / thickets, I'm no gardener, to me they all green, so again, I pluck out the one he says are weed.

Then today estate agent gives me a photo of the garden that must have been 5 years old says it's "inventory picture" of when I moved in, which is !!!!!!!! as they can't prove it with date stamp and demand it looks like that, apparently at the insistence of the landlord, who doesn't even live in England anymore.

It's the first time I've ever rented a house by myself and gone through an estate agent. Does it all sound like a bit of a nightmare estate agent / landlord? The estate agent also apparently has a problem with me putting boxes in the hallway / kitchen even though I live alone, rented an unfurnished house and don't cook because apparently it's "unsightly" and "normal people's homes don't look like that". They can't say it's a safety hazard because no path is blocked, but apparently they want me "explain it to the landlord"

Presumably if I want to leave now they're gonna have a go and trying to keep my deposit for the garden?

Just refuse. What do you think they'll do, ground you?


Big boy/girl pants on time. It's your home!

DEV1L

I have rented my flat for about 6 years now and have seen my landlord once. If he told me to do anything i would tell him to get lost, Just read up on your rights and be an annoying tenant.

PasturesNew

Leave. No matter what you do you'll always be dealing with idiots and that's no way to live your life in peace.

Murphybear

Oh dear, another letting agent who doesn't really know what they are doing.

The purpose of an inspection is to determine whether there are any problems with the property, it is not about how a tenant lives. That's up to the tenant.

It's up to you how you manage the garden, not the agent.

They can expect the garden to be neat and tidy, or however it was when you moved in, (obviously allowing for different times of the year) but that's another issue.

saajan_12

YOU DON'T HAVE TO 'PASS' AN INSPECTION!
An inspection is just the LL (or agent on his behalf) looking at the property to know whats going on / decide what to do about repairs/whether to renew etc. The LL may have a contractual right to do the inspection, in order to

1. discuss any repair needs
2. check you're not breaching any terms eg subletting, overcrowding
3. decide whether you're taking care of long term property issues eg not allowing mould, not breaking things. They can't force you to fix it immediately but they might decide not to renew etc

General gardening or cleanliness is none of their concern until you move out.

There's no 'criteria' you can pass /fail even if they make up some. IF the LL / agent makes any more demands, I would reply stating the property will be left in the same condition when you leave as it was at the start. Full stop.

theone999

DEV1L wrote: »

I have rented my flat for about 6 years now and have seen my landlord once. If he told me to do anything i would tell him to get lost, Just read up on your rights and be an annoying tenant.

I've never seen the landlord either as she live in Scotland apparently. But what the estate agent told me is that she has relatives in the area who she gets to sometimes randomly drive by the house and looks at it and if they don't like the look of the garden / house from the front then complains to the estate agent.

Comms69

theone999 wrote: »

I've never seen the landlord either as she live in Scotland apparently. But what the estate agent told me is that she has relatives in the area who she gets to sometimes randomly drive by the house and looks at it and if they don't like the look of the garden / house from the front then complains to the estate agent.

Suggest that stalking is not an appropriate way to manage a property and you will be reporting anyone seen snooping to the police.

Cakeguts

The agent is an idiot. Sounds like the one round the corner from us where they haven't leaned how to park a car legally yet.



While you are renting this property it is yours. They cannot tell you how to live your life in it. If you want to grow the grass and never cut it that is your choice if the landlord wants it cut on a regular basis and you don't mind they pay a gardener to cut it. You don't pay a gardener if you don't mind long grass it is none of their business what you do in your garden.



The purpose of an inspection is for you to tell them and show them if anything needs attention.

Cakeguts

theone999 wrote: »

I've never seen the landlord either as she live in Scotland apparently. But what the estate agent told me is that she has relatives in the area who she gets to sometimes randomly drive by the house and looks at it and if they don't like the look of the garden / house from the front then complains to the estate agent.

The estate agent is an even bigger idiot if they are taking orders from a relative of the landlord. It is none of the relatives' business how you live in your house they shouldn't be driving by like this. While you are paying rent it is your house. Your house, your garden. Do what you want. If the landlord doesn't like how you live in the house they always have the option of not extending your tenancy. The landlord should not be instructing relatives to spy on you.

Comms69

Cakeguts wrote: »

The estate agent is an even bigger idiot if they are taking orders from a relative of the landlord. It is none of the relatives' business how you live in your house they shouldn't be driving by like this. While you are paying rent it is your house. Your house, your garden. Do what you want. If the landlord doesn't like how you live in the house they always have the option of not extending your tenancy. The landlord should not be instructing relatives to spy on you.

It's like a criminal offence - in terms of protection from eviction (though less likely) and harassment (which is exactly what it is)