Letting Agency Stole Our Money!

rayer · 10 Jan 2008 at 19:55

I rented a flat from an agency (Keynsham, Bristol, you have been warned) but I also slowly got to know the actaul landlords and actually got on with them.
When it came to moving out, I totally scrubbed the place clean (being ex services I was a professional at this)
The agency guy came round and did his inspection and couldnt find anything wrong, so he used his index finger and drew an 'S' shape on the window. He then adjusted his position alongside the window (cheek virtually pressing the pane) and said, ' The window has dust on it '
I couldnt believe it, so I grabbed a cloth and wiped the window and said ' It doesnt now'
Anyway, I went a couple of days later to pick up my deposit and he said he wanted to stick professional 'cleaners' into the flat but the landlord said not too, so I got my full deposit back, and the agency face looked nasty, he didnt like it one bit.

sunama · 10 Jan 2008 at 19:55

sr4470 said:
Hey, I didn't say I'd be a witness in court

You wont have to be. Our OP is going to bluff it. Rather than stating that you went, he will say he went. Simple.

But, like I said, I believe it wont get to court anyway.

Also, like the previous poster stated that this is just £90, so it really does depend how far the OP wants to push this. If its about priniciple, then by all means push hard, cover all your bases and crush them in court.

Heofz · 10 Jan 2008 at 20:07

sunama said:
You wont have to be. Our OP is going to bluff it. Rather than stating that you went, he will say he went. Simple.

But, like I said, I believe it wont get to court anyway.

Also, like the previous poster stated that this is just £90, so it really does depend how far the OP wants to push this. If its about priniciple, then by all means push hard, cover all your bases and crush them in court.

I *am* the OP

Dolph · 10 Jan 2008 at 20:30

I must either have been really lucky or actually took care of my rented properties, seeing as I've had full deposits back from every landlord (5) I've rented from....

Heofz · 10 Jan 2008 at 20:33

Dolph said:
I must either have been really lucky or actually took care of my rented properties, seeing as I've had full deposits back from every landlord (5) I've rented from....

my case doesn't really have anything to do with the landlord though. It's the fact he decided to use this brand-new agency scamscum :mad:

In reality they ripped off the landlord by £50 also, but I doubt he'll be as persistant as me

Glaucus · 10 Jan 2008 at 20:36

Heofz said:
my case doesn't really have anything to do with the landlord though. It's the fact he decided to use this brand-new agency scamscum

In reality they ripped off the landlord by £50 also, but I doubt he'll be as persistant as me

You should let the landlord know what's happening and see if he wants to write his own letter to them. It means more pressure.

Peño · 10 Jan 2008 at 20:54

I live in Hammersmith, and passed that JK Cleaning Service last night (unknowingly)! Could have done some detective work on your behalf.

Didn't actually see it though - just Google Map'ped the postcode and it's en-route to where I went. It's also a house - not a shop front.

I would do exactly what you have done, although the email could have been a bit more professional. Good luck. What is the name of the Letting Agency?

gumbald · 10 Jan 2008 at 21:05

Good luck with it OP, stick it at 'em

Heofz · 10 Jan 2008 at 22:50

AcidHell2 said:
You should let the landlord know what's happening and see if he wants to write his own letter to them. It means more pressure.

Well at the time during the few weeks after we moved out and the new tenants moved in, we were arguing with the landlord saying that we left the place in a terrible state, despite the fact that he never inspected it himself. Obviously the agency fed him lies and he acted accordingly. Though all this didn't really become apparent until some months later. :mad:

Phæte said:
What is the name of the Letting Agency?

Broadway & West. Avoid them like the plague and spread the word. Absolute scum, from the minute they brought their viewers round. :rolleyes:

Glaucus · 10 Jan 2008 at 23:09

In future, take photos and go around the house with the agent/landlord. Give them a copy. Also ensure you are at the house on the final inspection. Do the inspection then give the keys back.

Samtheman1k · 11 Jan 2008 at 12:26

I've used moneyclaimonline before to claim money back. you are doing everything right. If it ever goes to court, you have to prove that you have done everything possible to try and resolve this and court is your last hope, which it seems like it is. Moneyclaim is very easy to use and you add the fee onto the claim (+interest that they can calculate for you). Good luck.

Deadly Ferret · 11 Jan 2008 at 12:51

The first question I would ask is: if they elected to have the flat cleaned, why has the cost of such been taken from your deposit? Was there provision for that in your tenancy agreement? If not, then they have no prima facie right to bill you. In any case, if you left it in good order then you should dispute their judgement in hiring cleaners.

mattyfez · 11 Jan 2008 at 13:06

Look here for advice....

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/tenants/

Heofz · 11 Jan 2008 at 13:39

mattyfez said:
Look here for advice....

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/tenants/

Already a member there as it happens, started a new thread with copy of my OP. Would be interesting to see how it pans out their side.

Probably very similar to this thread here on OcUK, but you never know

Deadly Ferret said:
The first question I would ask is: if they elected to have the flat cleaned, why has the cost of such been taken from your deposit? Was there provision for that in your tenancy agreement? If not, then they have no prima facie right to bill you. In any case, if you left it in good order then you should dispute their judgement in hiring cleaners.

Yeah the problem with that is it's become a case of our word against theirs. They have actually gone all out lying, saying that we left the place in an absolutely filthy state, when that clearly was not the case

HaX · 11 Jan 2008 at 15:01

It really staggers me that letting agents aren't subject to closer regulation and scrutiny.

We rented a flat in Nottingham two years ago and found the letting agents particularly unhelpful and unpleasant.

Our flat was a ground floor flat and our gas and electricty meters were located in the Cellar- which we weren't given the key to. After much insistance on my part were finally given the key and I was able to supply the meter readings to our supplies companies.

When I did this, were were billed £80 for a months' electricity usage. The Electricty company smelt a rat and advised us that the previous tennant must have given an incorrect reading as there is no way that we could have used that much.

What then ensued was us being ping-ponged between the electricity company and the letting agency, who were keen to absolve themselves of any responsibility and avoid chasing the previous occupant.

Even when we moved out of the flat we were receiving letters requesting payment.

We supplied the letting agency with our new address (where we still live to this date), so that they could send us any outstanding bills. 18 months later we are still yet to receive anything.

Deadly Ferret · 11 Jan 2008 at 15:40

Heofz said:
They have actually gone all out lying, saying that we left the place in an absolutely filthy state, when that clearly was not the case

Have they got any evidence to back up their accusation? The burden of proof is on them.

Deposits are not meant to be dipped into for cleaning. They are to cover the costs of damages, not normal wear & tear or having cleaning done.

Morba · 11 Jan 2008 at 15:56

HaX said:
It really staggers me that letting agents aren't subject to closer regulation and scrutiny.

in terms of deposits, its a lot harder for them to steal your money now due to the new deposit schemes that are in place.

Morba · 11 Jan 2008 at 15:57

Deadly Ferret said:
Have they got any evidence to back up their accusation? The burden of proof is on them.

Deposits are not meant to be dipped into for cleaning. They are to cover the costs of damages, not normal wear & tear or having cleaning done.

Well, its more to put the place back in the state it was in prior to current tennants moving in, with the exception of normal wear and tear.
So leaving the place as a complete **** tip, it would be understandable to use the deposit to clean it.

CrimsonAvenger · 12 Jan 2008 at 07:11

I think you're doing the right thing and going about it the right way. Nice letter btw!

Good luck with recovering what is rightly yours

dbmzk1 · 12 Jan 2008 at 08:00

It's in my contract with the letting agency I use that they can use some of my deposit to pay for a professional clean when I vacate the premises. I had to pay an extra deposit as I have a cat - they told me that would be used to de-flea the house, even if my cat didn't have fleas. Most of them do that kind of thing these days and a lot of them lie about having the work done and pocket the money as a bit of extra profit.

Bottom line is you should have a copy of the contract you signed when you moved in and in there it will say exactly what your deposit is for and what they can and can't do with it. If you don't have this then you don't have a leg to stand on as they could, in theory, just make it all up as they go along and if it is your word against theirs, as it sounds like it is, then they will win.