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Rental Management by Agent

Snakes_Belly
Posts: 3,698 Forumite

I have a property that is rented out. When the property was initially rented out I used a local agency to manage the property. They obtained an excellent tenant who has been in the property for several years.
The contract that I signed up to included the arrangement of maintenance. The agency was bought out and after a few months the new agent introduced a fee for arranging maintenance. I feel that this is wrong and is in breach of the contract I signed with my original agent.
I do have the choice of arranging the maintenance issues myself however I am paying the agent 10% for two checks per year and collection of the monthly rent.
The problem is that whilst I am annoyed about this I don't want to rock the boat with the tenants and if I complain to the agents they could just take a kick back on the maintenance anyway.
My tenants were looking to purchase a property which is why I have not pursued this as I would have just changed the agent. It does seem now as if they may be in the property for some time.
I would be interested on your thoughts.
The contract that I signed up to included the arrangement of maintenance. The agency was bought out and after a few months the new agent introduced a fee for arranging maintenance. I feel that this is wrong and is in breach of the contract I signed with my original agent.
I do have the choice of arranging the maintenance issues myself however I am paying the agent 10% for two checks per year and collection of the monthly rent.
The problem is that whilst I am annoyed about this I don't want to rock the boat with the tenants and if I complain to the agents they could just take a kick back on the maintenance anyway.
My tenants were looking to purchase a property which is why I have not pursued this as I would have just changed the agent. It does seem now as if they may be in the property for some time.
I would be interested on your thoughts.
Nolite te bast--des carborundorum.
0
Comments
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You had a perfectly valid contract with your original agent.
When the new agent took over, your contract did not change - just the name of one of the parties to it.
If the new agent proposed new terms, it was your choice whether to agree to them, or continue under the exsting contract terms.The contract that I signed up to included the arrangement of maintenance.0 -
I will dig out my original contract and post what is actually says. I was notified when the new agent added this charge which is for the arrangement of maintenance. If they arrange for a contractor to undertake some maintenance they add a fee plus VAT for arranging this.
The staff at the estate agents know that I am unhappy with this. I was told that many agents get a kick back from these maintenance invoices. If I complain they could just add it on.
I am intending to take out a contract with British Gas and that should cut out some of the maintenance and the gas check.
Nolite te bast--des carborundorum.0 -
* Letting agents: how should a landlord select or sack?0 -
Agent changes and contract transfers? Surely that would at least depend on contract wording?0
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