Letting agent did not inform me promptly

[googlebridge]

My tenant left my flat on 13 Janhaving given the agent one month's notice. The agent forgot to inform me until 10 Jan, 3 days before the tenant vacated the property. They did not tell me in a timely way. THis meant I could only start marketing the property from after 10 January.

I have complained to the agent about this and they have offered me the following compensation:

a free advert worth 35 + VAT
half price marketing fee (discount of 125 +VAT)

The flat is now empty, since a new tenant has not yet been found.

I feel I am entitled to compensation equal to the rent during the period that they forgot to inform me plus compensation for the extra council tax I will have to pay since they did not market the flat until after 10 Janaury.

The agent appears to think that taking up to 10 days to inform me is OK. Since I am using e-mail to communicate with the agent, I think 10 days is far too long.

Does anyone have experience of this kind of issue? What action should I take? Suggestions from informed individuals would be appreciated.

[Paul_f]

Unfortunately your agent hasn't done anything wrong as such but has just demonstrated incompetence. The only thing you can positively do is instruct another agent.

Are they members of ARLA/NAEA/RICS? - if not transfer to one anyway that belongs to one of these three; they will have a proper independent complaints procedure in place and your money is protected by insurance should things go "pear shaped".