Experience of letting agencies and landlords

Pound

Just wondering what people's experiences are with renting in terms of contact with the landlord.

On my first rental, the letting agency gave me all of the landlords details and I only ever contacted the agency when I moved out. Anything else I went directly to the landlord for. Initial I thought my contact would be with the agency but it made sense.

My second rental was the other way around. The agency seemed to handle everything as though there was no landlord. I did see the name of the landlord but the address is simply the letting agency office. I did need some repairs done which needed landlord approval. I thought it very strange that the letting agency kept forwarding emails between me and the landlord but each time deleted the email address to prevent direct contact.

pramsay13

It will depend on the level of service that the landlord has agreed to and is paying for, so some letting agencies offer just a finding service, right up to the full works where they do everything, although you are still entitled to know who the landlord is and to have contact details.

agrinnall

All sorts of combinations are possible and completely normal. I've had rentals where all contact has been direct with the LL, where the LA has passed on queries to the LL, and where the LA has dealt with everything. If there is a LA involved then it's all down to the contract between them and the LL, although you will always have the option of writing to the LL at the address in your tenancy agreement (although that could be the LA's address).

Cakeguts

Some landlords pay for a full management service which means that the letting agents arrange everything.