Rent reference fee kept in 2016 - help!

gemandpop

Hello! 

I’ve been thinking about this and am really annoyed - hoping someone can advise me? 

In July 2016, my sister and I viewed a house to rent and ended up paying £360 for references etc.

I’ve got emails between me and the owner, agreeing a date to move in, along with emails from the referencing company. My sister and I gave notice to our then current rental properties, only to be called by the estate agents, a couple of weeks before moving day, to say the owners hadn’t got the correct mortgage to rent and so we couldn’t move in there. We were devastated at the thought of not having anywhere to go and were pressured by the estate agents, to go for another of their properties. We verbally agreed with them, but didn’t sign any paperwork, before a family member let us stay with them until we found somewhere suitable. 

The estate agent refused to give the £360 back, despite never giving us a property and causing us major stress and inconvenience with our housing situation. 

Looking back at this, I think it’s disgusting that they even considered keeping our £360, after what they put us through. 

Is it too late now, or does anyone think I have a case to claim my £360 back? 

I’ve got evidence of the transaction on my bank statement. 

Thank you! 

Gemma 

HampshireH

Did they do the referencing?
What were the terms you signed before they carried out the checks.
?

gemandpop

I’ve got emails confirming the application forms we filled out for the referencing, emails from the referencing company confirming they were doing the referencing and asking for payslips and emails between me and the owner / estate agent, confirming moving days and accepting liability for why we couldn’t move. 

I guess they’ll just say that they kept it because we looked at another of their properties, but I paid that £360 for the house we didn’t move in to and never signed anything for any other house! 

£360 for nothing... I don’t know why I let them get away with it, at the time!

HampshireH

But you paid for a service which was provided

I guess you could dispute it now but they would probably say the same thing. I would imgine it be the landlord you would need to pursuse.

You however had no contract with the LL and as above if the estate agent received a reference for you then they will argue they received the service you paid for.

I'd chalk this one up to experience and next time pursue something at the time if you have any complaints.