Letting Agent Checkout Report Fraud

Heyitschloe88

The letting agent has replied back to my email without acknowledging my mentioning in the photos proving that it was not me that broke it. Simply stating it was working in the inventory and now it's now. I checked the main photo file with all the photos of the inspection that day and the photo that shows it was not broken has now been deleted from the file. Luckily I took a screenshot of this photo and of where it was situated within the lineup of photos.

They now know that they are on the wrong. As I just stated it was the 14th photo in the set and no mention of me having a screenshot I think they've deleted it not realising I have said screenshot hoping then that the evidence is deleted. Absolutely shocked and disgusted by this. I have let the landlord know.

dimbo61 wrote: »

I recently bought 2 interlinked base units and 10 year fireangel smoke alarm which cost £122 so £5 is cheap rubbish.
Expect to pay £15/25 for a smoke alarm

Finchy2018 wrote: »

You'd also have to add in the cost of getting someone out to fit it.

Hasbeen wrote: »

Smoke detectors in rentals have to be interlinked mains wired usually on separate circuit. Expensive and require electrician.

This thread isn't disputing the cost of a SD as I stated in my original post I am not the one that broke it. But thank you.

AdrianC

Replacing a mains smoke alarm does not require an electrician. There's a multiplug connected to the house wiring. Just remove the detector as normal, then unplug the multiplug. Takes... oooh... two seconds longer than a non-mains one.

If the multiplug is different, then there'll be a connector a very short way up the wiring. Add a minute or two for anybody even vaguely competent. Not notifiable, any more than replacing a bulbholder or LV lighting transformer is.

Heyitschloe88

If I had broken the smoke alarm myself I would have replaced it myself. It's now a case of they broke it, there were pictures on the report showing that they broke it, I mentioned it in an email, no response at all to mentioned picture, I check the report and the picture has now been deleted so they're deleting evidence that they broke it so I still have to pay for it.

Marvel1

Heyitschloe88 wrote: »

The letting agent has replied back to my email without acknowledging my mentioning in the photos proving that it was not me that broke it. Simply stating it was working in the inventory and now it's now. I checked the main photo file with all the photos of the inspection that day and the photo that shows it was not broken has now been deleted from the file. Luckily I took a screenshot of this photo and of where it was situated within the lineup of photos.

They now know that they are on the wrong. As I just stated it was the 14th photo in the set and no mention of me having a screenshot I think they've deleted it not realising I have said screenshot hoping then that the evidence is deleted. Absolutely shocked and disgusted by this. I have let the landlord know.

:eek: sneaky !!!!!!!s, don't mention the screenshot you have taken follow post 11 advice and request it all back.

Hutch100uk

You have evidence. Just request the deposit back from protection scheme then take it from there. I wouldn't bother communicating with them any further.

Hasbeen

wesleyad wrote: »

No they dont, maybe HMO's do?

See note 6:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarms-explanatory-booklet-for-landlords/the-smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-alarm-england-regulations-2015-qa-booklet-for-the-private-rented-sector-landlords-and-tenants

You are correct but up here in Natland it is the law.

TripleH

Hutch100uk wrote: »

You have evidence. Just request the deposit back from protection scheme then take it from there. I wouldn't bother communicating with them any further.

Also submit the screenshot as evidence in case they 'forget to submit all information. It should help also cast doubt into the mind of the adjudicator of what the agent is saying. Don't tell the agents just claim back your deposit as detailed above.

Heyitschloe88

On the TDS website it states I have to wait until 10 days after my tenancy ends to raise a dispute. My tenancy doesn't end until this Friday (11/4) so I would I have to wait until then to raise it, correct?

In my email I started off with this

Good morning *****.

I would like the full report please. I do believe there is a case of fraudulent behaviour in this checkout report.

Smoke alarm casing cracked - Your member of staff who did the report has clearly broke the smoke alarm themselves. If you look at all the pictures that were uploaded in the keystone report you will see in the 14th picture (a wide shot of the living room) that the smoke alarm is clearly not cracked if you zoom in to it. Then later on, the smoke alarm is cracked. I did not break this. Your member of staff did and is now saying I did. This is fraud and now questions the validity of the rest of the inspection.

Her reply to this was

Good afternoon Chloe

Thank you for your email, I have responded to each point below.

Smoke alarm – this is showing on the inventory that it is in a working condition and on the checkout it is not working and the casing is cracked.

No response to my claim at all and like I said, that photo has since been deleted. I have screenshots if said photo, within the timeline of other photos too and still have the original file open on this computer with that photo included and have now recorded a video of this file with it there and another video and screenshot of the file now with it being removed. I have not yet responded to this email and I am waiting for her to let me know what the landlord says.

I did send a text with the included screenshots yesterday to the landlord as she was going to visit the property herself yesterday just to make her aware this was going on so I assume she will probably tell the letting agents about the screenshots when she gets back to them.



Among other comments they've made the agent said "I have attached the checkout report for you. I also have a detailed report which shows before and after photographs if you would prefer to see this just let me know, its just a bigger document. but when I asked for the full report so I could see it (with the before and after pictures), it didn't get sent and now in the comments I made that she replied to she has now said there isn't a before picture of these.

Heyitschloe88

I just re-checked the email I got sent and the detailed report was sent with it. Now through this report I have managed to get into the photo file which includes all pictures from the check-in inventory. It includes no pictures of a light switch (strangely all the other light switches though) but does include a picture of a bin with waste in.

Deleting pictures they had, lying about the pictures that they were taken in the check in inventory. Just *sigh*

I have just sent an email asking for the in-house complaints procedure and now shall wait.

AdrianC

Stop worrying about the agent and their check-in and -out procedures. Just request your deposit back from the protection scheme, and let their arbitration sort it out.

Then remember never to rent through this agent again.