Purple Bricks - Termination of Agreement HELPPPP!!!

parrrzy_j

Hi all,

Hope we are all good.

Basically, I am hoping somebody can help me.

I have let my property out with Purplebricks for nearly 6 months, and they have been nothing but a complete nightmare.
First of all, they messed up and booked in the gas safety checks and that prevented the tenant moving in for nearly two weeks.
Then further down the line changed the payment dates that I received money for the rent.
Then 5 months into the rental, the tenant raised two issues in the property (broken fridge and broken radiator valve). Purple bricks got in touch with me and advised me of this, to which I replied go ahead and get the faults sorted. 5 weeks later, the issues still hadn't been resolved (the tenant had no fridge for 5 weeks!!!!). I got in touch with the tenant oblivious that they hadn't been resolved, and then decided to take it upon myself to resolve them for him, organising a plumber and new fridge to be delivered.
I rang PurpleBricks today to ask what happened, they replied "Oh, the quotes came in while I was on annual leave". So I said I want to cancel because the service is appalling. They then advised that I have to pay £600 to exit!! What...! I have no idea what to do, I want to end my agreement with them because they are a disgrace, but I refuse to pay the £600!!

Any ideas?????!!!!

G_M

What are the terms of your contract with PP?

Have you read:

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

(and I have to ask: why on earth did you go with them to start with.....:eek:)

parrrzy_j

Hi G_M,
Thanks so much for your response. First off, I have no idea why I started with them, such a massive error on my behalf, I suppose it was no upfront costs that reeled me in.. naive I know...!
So I have to give them two months written notice.
The Document READS
• Either party shall have the right to terminate this agreement if the other is in persistent or significant breach of any of its obligations under the agreement and fails to remedy such breach within 14 days of notice being received.
• Should you wish to proceed with a tenancy despite the recommendation of the referencing agency being anything other than ‘Accept’, Purplebricks will accept no liability with regards to rent arrears or damage to The Property. Purplebricks reserves the right to terminate this agreement within 14 days of notice being received in this instance.
• Our Management Services and this agreement may be terminated by you by way of two months’ written notice, however, not before the end of the initial fixed term tenancy. A charge of £600 including VAT will be payable by You should the tenant remain in The Property. No fee or notice will be due should the tenant found by Purplebricks vacate.
• Should you not wish to proceed with an agreed tenancy that is of no fault to the tenant, you will be required to reimburse the application fees they have paid to date and an administration charge of £60 including VAT

G_M

parrrzy_j wrote: »

Hi G_M,
Thanks so much for your response. First off, I have no idea why I started with them, such a massive error on my behalf, I suppose it was no upfront costs that reeled me in.. naive I know...!
So I have to give them [STRIKE]two months[/STRIKE]14 days written notice.
The Document READS
• Either party shall have the right to terminate this agreement if the other is in persistent or significant breach of any of its obligations under the agreement and fails to remedy such breach within 14 days of notice being received.

Are you sure your contract covers management of repairs etc?

parrrzy_j

Yes, I opted for the full management service, whereby they took £200 as a maintenance float!

parrrzy_j

Just wondering if anybody has anything on this for me? Looking to cancel the end of this month?
Thanks again!

AdrianC

parrrzy_j wrote: »

• Either party shall have the right to terminate this agreement if the other is in persistent or significant breach of any of its obligations under the agreement and fails to remedy such breach within 14 days of notice being received.

That would cover it, but who gets to decide on the "persistent or significant"...?

• Our Management Services and this agreement may be terminated by you by way of two months’ written notice, however, not before the end of the initial fixed term tenancy. A charge of £600 including VAT will be payable by You should the tenant remain in The Property. No fee or notice will be due should the tenant found by Purplebricks vacate.

And there's your six hundred quid bill, if "persistent or significant" doesn't get ticked.

parrrzy_j

Hi AdrainC,
Thanks for your response! Thats a good point, as you can see from my first post, there has been persistent mess-ups from PB, and to top it, the tenant were not in for there 6 month review, yet they have failed to let me know this!
What do you suggest??

wine_night

How long is the initial fixed term for? Is it a 12 month term?

Could you hang on for the remaining term (but also put your written notice in ASAP to terminate at the end of the term) to avoid having to pay the £600?

Presumably you have given the tenant your details so he/she can contact you directly if PB are still messing around.

steampowered

You always have a right to terminate contracts for "fundamental breach".

I would be tempted to say that PB are in fundamental breach of contract, so I am terminating with immediate effect.

js261

steampowered said:

You always have a right to terminate contracts for "fundamental breach".

I would be tempted to say that PB are in fundamental breach of contract, so I am terminating with immediate effect.

Hi Steam powered, im in the same position as you.  Can i ask how you got along with going the fundamental breach route, any advice?