Downright rude correspondance from letting agent

CookieMon

Well this is a bit of a strange situation. We have been letting a particular flat for around 10 months from a letting agent, have paid our rent on time, and other than a few niggles with regards a light fitting not working and the toilet stopping working, we've had little trouble with them.

We received a letter from them around two weeks ago informing them us of a visit on 9/5/08 to 'check the conditions of the flat' and to inform them if this date was inconvenient. Now we have received these letters before, but up until now no-one has actually been round so we felt no need to rearrange to date (not that it was at the forefront of our thinking at the time!!)

In the timeframe between the letter being sent and the date of the 'inspection' we suffered a couple of family bereavements which meant that we had to leave to flat quickly at one stage and tidying was the least thing on our mind.

On Saturday when I arrived back to the flat I had an extremely rude letter waiting for me from the letting agent which I am completely fuming at. Yes the flat may have been a little messier than normal (and we are *not* generally talking that bad here - a couple of dirty plates in the kitchen, coats on the sofa - bedroom was the worse as we'd had to pack in a hurry so there where clothes all over the bed.)

Anyway the letter was basically addressing us like unruly teenagers from parents with dirty bedrooms. The letter says:
"I thought that there had been a break-in at first then realised it was simply just untidy" then quoted a portion in the contract on cleanliness and tidiness.

Now this letter has left me fuming.:mad: Whilst we will admit the flat may not have been completely tidy, it is in good state - the fixtures and fittings are kept clean and in good working order, we normally do a thorough clean weekly. Surely to goodness we should be allowed to be untidy in our own flat which we pay (through the nose) for? My main issue though is with the unprofessional nature with which the letting agent worded the letter - am I being overly sensitive at this time, or is it completely out of order?


If clarification is needed please ask - myself and my partner intend to make a complaint about the unprofessional nature of the correspondence received, do we also have some rights regarding the quiet enjoyment, ie as long as the property is kept in good repair we should be allowed to be as messy as we like?

Imp

I would write a letter to the very top person at the estate agent. If it is a national chain the send it straight to the managing director. I would also send a letter to the landlord. I would explain that you had had a bereavement and had to pack/leave in a hurry. You found the letter extremely distressing and you think that letters like this to the Landlord's clients are not looking after the Landlord's best interests. And until you receive an apology you will not be dealing with the letting agent again, but directly with the landlord or another agent appointed by him.

Edited to add: the tidiness of the property is of no concern to the letting agent. What is of concern to him is that you are not allowing damage to happen to the property. It is also a chance for them to check on the repair of the house, so if any windows don't close properly or carpet is wearing thin, they can check this and arrange for them to be changed.

neverdespairgirl

Imp wrote: »

Edited to add: the tidiness of the property is of no concern to the letting agent. What is of concern to him is that you are not allowing damage to happen to the property. It is also a chance for them to check on the repair of the house, so if any windows don't close properly or carpet is wearing thin, they can check this and arrange for them to be changed.

Couldn't agree more. It's your home, you can leave your clothes all over the place should you wish!

Poppy9

Are they allowed to access your property when you are not there? Surely this is a security risk. What would happen if you claim items had gone missing?

poppysarah

So they snooped in your bedroom whilst you were out.

Yuck. That's horrid.


What does the contract say about them coming in on their own? It sounds very unpleasant.
I've always advised friends to change locks when they have moved in anywhere - you do not want any previous tenants etc with a spare key popping in unannounced let alone letting agents with their white gloves!

What does your contents insurance say about who should have key to your home?

olly300

Poppy9 wrote: »

Are they allowed to access your property when you are not there? Surely this is a security risk. What would happen if you claim items had gone missing?

The vast majority of landlords and letting agents are not thieves, and have a lot of properties to deal with.

The fact they have a key comes in useful when they organise repairs which means you don't have to take time off work, or you lock yourself out.

olly300

poppysarah wrote: »

So they snooped in your bedroom whilst you were out.

Yuck. That's horrid.


What does the contract say about them coming in on their own? It sounds very unpleasant.
I've always advised friends to change locks when they have moved in anywhere - you do not want any previous tenants etc with a spare key popping in unannounced let alone letting agents with their white gloves!

What does your contents insurance say about who should have key to your home?

Most tenancy agreements have a clause in them that allows a landlord or letting agent to access the property on their own after giving a reasonable amount of notice.

I've given spare keys to a friend. Likewise I have spare keys for other family members. My contents insurance isn't invalid because they have a key and neither is theirs.

My contents insurance is invalid if someone steals something and doesn't break in.

Poppy9

olly300 wrote: »

The vast majority of landlords and letting agents are not thieves.

but it only takes one. :eek: Yes it might be easier for repairs/deliveries etc but most home owners wouldn't give a key to anyone apart from family so why should tenants have less security. As council tenants my parents changed the door locks (after a burglarly where the keys were taken and once when my sister lost her front door key). They didn't have to give a new key to the council.

I would not feel happy knowing someone could enter my property at will.

As another poster commented I would think it would invalidate your insurance policy too if people other than the resident's in the property had free access and something was stolen.

50plusabit

I agree with IMP, you must put your concerns in writing to the Manager of the agent and a copy to head office. You can not refuse to deal with the agent, as he has been contracted by the landlord. They did not enter the flat without your permission, as you did not reply to the letter. I understand that your circumstances threw all this into the air, only to be expected.
I would also put in the letter, that you wish, any further visits for inspections be carried out with you in the property, at a convenient time to you (your right). If they make a fuss, then another letter informing them that as from that date, you will not be giving your permission for them to enter the flat, as long as your tenancy runs (you are perfectly with-in your rights to do this, whatever the contract says).
When your agent gets your letter, he should issue you with an apology. As has been said, the inspection is to make sure the structure of the property is good, you have not knocked down walls, ripped off doors, or ruined carpets. If you choose to leave your coat on the sofa thats your choice.
Good luck, they should be apologizing for the way the letter was worded.

olly300

Poppy9 wrote: »

but it only takes one. :eek: Yes it might be easier for repairs/deliveries etc but most home owners wouldn't give a key to anyone apart from family so why should tenants have less security. As council tenants my parents changed the door locks (after a burglarly where the keys were taken and once when my sister lost her front door key). They didn't have to give a new key to the council.

I would not feel happy knowing someone could enter my property at will.

They can't enter the property at will otherwise it's harassment. Harassment of tenants is actually a very serious matter and a landlord can end up in prison for it.

Also renting from a council and HA is different to renting from a private landlord as they have different rules and are governed by different legislation.

Poppy9 wrote: »

As another poster commented I would think it would invalidate your insurance policy too if people other than the resident's in the property had free access and something was stolen.

The majority of contents insurance policies now have clauses in them that state if something is stolen from your property and there are no signs of a break in you are not covered. So it doesn't matter whether you are a tenant or home owner in that case. (Yes I do read the small print in my policies.)

beingjdc

I find it shocking that this sort of thing still goes on! Maybe inspecting student lets is one thing, but the cleanliness of the property itself is none of anyone's business. That's what a deposit is for - if you don't leave it in a fit condition when you clear off at the end, the time you're there it's yours.

Madness. Still, nobody's tried it on me since I was a student, so I guess I shouldn't grumble.