A Tenant's guide to renting

tbs624

useruvce now has a thread dealing with his/her query on the main board

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3282230

useruvce

Looks like I am having problem after problem in renting out!

The Letting Agent (G8 Properties, Ilford ) showed me a property and took the holding deposit from me.
But next day, another agency called me to show the same property. Thats when I called my LA and I realised that my LA didnt secure the property for me even after taking holding deposit from me and in fact the Landlord had not instructed my LA at all.

My LA got information of this property from another agency and he showed me this property and took the holding deposit. Later he said that he has some issues with the landlord and hence the LA wanted to show me some other properties instead of securing this one.
The reason he took my deposit is because he though that he can "get" me by holding my money and then I will be seeing and renting one of the properties that he showed.

I said I didnt want to do business with him if he is not securing the property I had paid the holding deposit for. So, he gave me my holding deposit back now. But he has all my personal and income details (though he didnt do any reference/credit check yet) and also I had spent money to pay to my current LA where I am renting now to provide a reference about my current tenancy.

Now, I have lost that money paid for referencing my current LA because I may have to pay my current LA for reference again when I rent out another property. Also, my time is wasted as I have served notice at my current place already.

Can I make this LA who wasted my time and money to pay me? How much should I claim the compensation and what can I do if he doesnt agree to pay ? Can I go to police or should I go to any consumer court?

(note: he has refunded the money I had given him. He didnt compensate for the money I gave my current LA for reference)

Thank you.

(Also, can someone please create a new thread with this msg because I am not allowed to create a new thread in Rent related forum as I am a relatively new user. Thank you)

tbs624

useruvce wrote: »

(Also, can someone please create a new thread with this msg because I am not allowed to create a new thread in Rent related forum as I am a relatively new user. Thank you)

Tag it on to the end of your exisiting thread as linked to by me in the post two above. the issues are are all linked anyway and it saves the board being littered with several threads aound the same topic. You managed to start that new thread Ok so what's different now btw?

wheelerdealer_2

Thanks for the tips. Some good stuff there.

thomas22

Enjoyed reading from top to bottom :T

georgyi

I rent a property in a mixed development of houses and flats some privately owned all paying a service charge for upkeep. The builder transferred the directorship of the Management company to one owner occupier and they appointed a secretary. The problem is this person makes all the decisions for the other owners and tenants and refuses to hold an annual residents meeting. The company accounts are not audited and are not presented on a balance sheet. I would appreciate some advice.

Roberend

Hi this is my first post on here, so Hi! I currently rent a house with a lettings agency and wondered how I go about pushing them to do repairs. The bath at the house has been fitted the wrong way round so that the electric shower unit is above the head rest of the bath. This means that when showering water collects on the bath and spills down the side leaking into the kitchen below (over 4 electric lights!).

I have notified the letting agent but I have been fobbed off with vague answers until today where I was told the landlord is not willing to have the work done, this is also the house where the conservatory door has rotted away so that insects regularly roam into the house (slugs and about a million woodlice).

Does anyone know if this conflicts with a letting contract? can I threaten to sue the landlord for not upkeeping the house condition?

They are a member of ARLA.

Thanks in advance for any advice, Rob.

shorty1_2

We have been renting a house for 2.5 years. In February we signed another 12 month contract. We now wish to buy our own home and have given one months notice in writing. The estate agent, Boydens, say we have to pay rent until February. Surely this cannot be so as how can anyone guarantee that they will stay a whole year?

BitterAndTwisted

You guaranteed that you would pay the rent until February by signing the rental agreement which is a legally-binding contract. The only way you can avoid this is by the landlord agreeing for you to surrender the property early. They are entitled to refuse to do this. They may charge you for their costs for finding a replacement tenant which is also reasonable.

cascaid

Hi guys,

This is a great guide for tenants, so useful! I have been living in my current rental property for 11 months now and the landlord has still not done some of the repairs that we notified him of when we moved in (September 2010). The previous tenants made the damages so we shouldn't be liable to cover the cost but it's just taking sooo long that I was wondering if there was anything we could do? When we originally viewed the flat it was perfect but the day we moved in, there was a huge rip in the sofa and the sliding balcony door didn't work properly (it now doesn't open at all!), it has taken us 11 months of back and forth with the maintenance company dealing with our property (we don't have the landlords details) and we haven't really made a lot of progress (apart from having 2 contractors come to assess the balcony door).

Any advice would be appreciated! Sorry for the long post