Letting Agents Problems.

Vita · 27 Apr 2010 at 13:12

Hey all,

Having a bit of trouble with our letting agents and was wondering if someone can point us in the right direction.

Basically, the rent is short, we've let a property to 3 students through a letting agency. However, one student has left and owes 2 months rent, the letting agent says they will chase it up. Every time we ring we never seem to get our answer, however going in person sometimes clears it.

With 2 months left since the students leave on the 1st of July, I doubt we're going to get the money. They hardly send statements and they have promised to get all the rent from the students, there excuse this time was that the student loans have not come through. Mine has, I don't know about the 2 guys who are staying.

So my question is, say the students leave with paying the rent, but the letting agency say they haven't or the letting agency hold the rent what can we do? Is their any organisation we can go to to seek help?

I think they're having us on. And also where the students are living is a tip, they're so dirty it's unbelievable anything that can be done about that?

Thanks for all the help/advice in advance guys.

Cuchulain · 27 Apr 2010 at 13:16

You need to dump your lettings agency and find someone more reliable who're going to work for their fee.

Vita · 27 Apr 2010 at 13:17

Cuchulain said:
You need to dump your lettings agency and find someone more reliable who're going to work for their fee.

Yeah we're going to do that after we get the rent owe'd to us. However say the letting agency doesn't give it? What can we do?

booyaka · 27 Apr 2010 at 13:18

Cuchulain said:
You need to dump your lettings agency and find someone more reliable who're going to work for their fee.

x2

What are the letting agency actually doing for your fees?? Nothing by the sounds of it.

I would write to them and get them to detail what they are doing to recover the outstanding rent and also what they are doing to advise the tenants about the state of the property.

If nothing forth coming - dump then and find new agents

Amnesia · 27 Apr 2010 at 13:21

they are probably giving you the same excuses as they are being told by the students.
it's unlikely they would hold the rent and not pay you it, it would have to be a very very dodgy letting agent to do something like that.
besides you can always go and knock on the students door and ask them to explain to you why they haven't paid.
apart from fear tactics there is little you can do to get your money if they are not paying.

changing letting agents at the end of the year would be a good move though....if the house is a dump there is a good chance they are not doing regular house inspections.

just a bit curious ...why did you or the letting agent decide to let the house to students ? they are never there for the full year so very unlikely you would be paid all year round.

Showboat · 27 Apr 2010 at 13:26

Letting agents do very little for their money. Only reason you should use one is if you do not live anywhere near the property.

A good letting agent will have got a guarantor, usually the students parents, you should also have the students home address.
You could pursue the student/parent via the small claims court.

I wouldn't start this process until they have moved out and you know the exact amount you are owed from arrears and cleaning the place.

Good luck, just had something similar happen to me with the tenants doing a runner and leaving the place like a tip.....