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Letting agents not getting back to me after I left tenancy early
Kaotic_100
Posts: 1 Newbie
So here's the story:
I have left my student accommodation tenancy early due to mitigating circumstances. I understand I'd have to pay rent for the following 10 months. However, I have contacted the letting agents with several tenants who are all looking for new homes, and the agency hasn't got back to any of them. I told the new tenants to call up the agency and tell them they're interested in the house but the agency just tells them that they'll call them back and doesn't. As a result, many of the tenants that I'm finding are finding homes elsewhere and thus, I cannot find a replacement. I also paid the early tenancy fee of £420. Every time I call the letting agents, they either say they're dealing with it, or tell us not to worry, but I can't trust them. They don't reply to my emails either and there is a massive lack of communication from their side. I just want to know what my rights are and what would be the consequences if I withhold my rent. I found many suitable replacement tenants who are interested in the room but due to lack of communication from the letting agents, they end up going elsewhere. I have written evidence from the tenants on email stating that the letting agents haven't got back to them.
Would appreciate any sort of advice, many thanks
I have left my student accommodation tenancy early due to mitigating circumstances. I understand I'd have to pay rent for the following 10 months. However, I have contacted the letting agents with several tenants who are all looking for new homes, and the agency hasn't got back to any of them. I told the new tenants to call up the agency and tell them they're interested in the house but the agency just tells them that they'll call them back and doesn't. As a result, many of the tenants that I'm finding are finding homes elsewhere and thus, I cannot find a replacement. I also paid the early tenancy fee of £420. Every time I call the letting agents, they either say they're dealing with it, or tell us not to worry, but I can't trust them. They don't reply to my emails either and there is a massive lack of communication from their side. I just want to know what my rights are and what would be the consequences if I withhold my rent. I found many suitable replacement tenants who are interested in the room but due to lack of communication from the letting agents, they end up going elsewhere. I have written evidence from the tenants on email stating that the letting agents haven't got back to them.
Would appreciate any sort of advice, many thanks
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Comments
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Legally, they are not obliged to release you.
Have you tried contacting the Landlord? The Landlord has more to lose and should be better motivated to accept a replacement if you make clear that you cannot sustain 10 months of rent payments.0 -
Unfortunately the agents aren't obliged to do anything, you've already signed a contract to pay them the rent for the next 10 months.0
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Indeed, as above.
Contact landlord direct. But he doesn't have to accept anyone either.
Was this a joint tenancy or a "room only" individual one with just you named as tenant, please?0 -
In your position I would be tempted to sublet until the agency pulled their finger out. (That is - get someone to move in and pay you rent, while you pay rent to the actual landlord!) Your tenancy agreement almost certainly disallows it, but if that makes the agent actually sit up and take notice, so much the better
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But it would be a fair and decent thing to do, if circumstances were mitigating.Legally, they are not obliged to release you.
Years ago I served notice on a 6 month AST 10 weeks into the tenancy. This was by choice, and I paid up the full amount before I left. The landlord was decent and paid back any rent as soon as a new tenant was found.Value-for-money-for-me-puhleeze!
"No man is worth, crawling on the earth"- adapted from Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio
Hope is not a strategy
...A child is for life, not just 18 years....Don't get me started on the NHS, because you won't win...I love chaz-ing!0 -
VfM4meplse wrote: »But it would be a fair and decent thing to do, if circumstances were mitigating.
Years ago I served notice on a 6 month AST 10 weeks into the tenancy. This was by choice, and I paid up the full amount before I left. The landlord was decent and paid back any rent as soon as a new tenant was found.
Problem is this is the agent not the LL. The landlord cannot claim double rent, so he was legally obliged to refund you once a tenant was found. Having an empty house can be more trouble than it's worth so the LL had an interest in finding someone to fill it.
However agent has no such interest. Easiest option for them is to to nothing and collect their fee. It needs the LL to get on their back to make something happen (although if its a room in an occupied house, again there is less motivation for LL)0 -
Thank you all so much for the replies! The landlord came into the property once and I spoke to him, he stated that he only deals through with the agency and is not willing to give out his number. Is it within my rights to have his number?
Anyways I found a tenant. Only problem is tenant can’t pay deposit. So I offered the agency to keep my deposit and replace him with me. Tenant also sent in through his application. I don’t think the agency were planning to give me deposit back given that I vacated early without enough notice. Anyways, now that I have offered them to keep my deposit and replace me with the new tenant, surely they are obliged to accept him? I am definitely not trying to pay next months rent when there is someone perfectly capable of taking my place + the agency keeping my full deposit0 -
Really? He doesn’t have to accept anyone? So that means even if I find a new capable tenant, both landlord and agency can say no?
Many thanks for your replies!0 -
This was a joint tenancy. So I was sharing with 5 other students
Thanks for your reply0 -
No, you are not entitled to the landlords phone number. You are only entitled to his name and address.
As others have said, they have no legal obligation to release you, no matter what0
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