Nice tenants want to renew/Lettings Agent not so good

jos2018

My (very nice) tenants want to renew but I am not that happy with the lettings agent (full management). I had to initiate the conversation and have had to ask for more details re costs. They are sluggish and don´t give me updates on the property and I haven´t received a copy of the annual gas check. On some issues the tenant and I were in direct contact because it was easier and quicker. They were an independent agent and then became part of a big national name (franchise?) and then half way through the contract they returned to their independent name (I was never informed of this formally or saw a new contract with a new name). The monthly statement just had a different name on it. When I queried this I received no answer.
They charge a 9% annual fee and a 6% management fee and if I renew with them they will charge 7% and 6%, respectively. Does this sound reasonable? I don´t mind paying for a good service but this isn´t.

DCFC79

Ask other EA's what they charge and maybe move to 1 of them.

getmore4less

If you have a good tenant and deal with things anyway why not self manage?

Some good tenants will do the crucial management for you you just pay the bills.

theartfullodger

Check you contract with them or Ts & Cs you agreed to & see what cost will be to break your agreement with them.


You probably could have dropped them when the new guys took over anyway.

MovingForwards

Manage them yourself and let them go onto a rolling tenancy instead.

Give your agents the required notice as per your contact.

G_M

Read


* New landlords: advice, information & links

* Letting agents: how should a landlord select or sack?

* Ending/renewing an AST: what happens when a fixed term ends? How can a LL or tenant end a tenancy? What is a periodic tenancy?

jos2018

Thank you all very much. What I would really like to do is move my tenants to another agency but the T&Cs are that a further equivalent fee is payable if we both move. The T&Cs of the original agency are that fees are still due if I move to a SPC or PC. However, I am wondering if that contract is null and void given the same company is no longer managing it.

robber2

jos2018 wrote: »

. However, I am wondering if that contract is null and void given the same company is no longer managing it.

Not what you want to hear but the contract will still stand. Company name changes, mergers, takeovers, splits etc change nothing.


Rob

jos2018

Thank you. It looks as though I will have to pay them the annual fee and move to self management if I want to keep the same tenants. I have just checked and I don´t think they carried out the gas safety certificate last year...I certainly haven´t been billed for one.