How do I change Agents?

[della]

Hi I'm new to this forum, so apologises if this has been discussed in the past but I could not find anything specific.

We have been rented our property in the UK for the last 2 years as we have moved aboard for work. We rent our property through an agent, which when we left the country were to local friendly (approved) agents in the area. Very nice people, orgainsed etc. About 1 year ago the company got bought out by a company in london and they now run their maintenance department and accounts departments from london and separately. We have had problems with them ever since, and they always argue and become defensive when we asked about the costs of maintenance that they arrange on the house. eg. 180GBP to replace the bathroom taps, when we think only the washers needed replacing. Anyway, their attitude on the phone seems to be to the protection of the tenants not us. As we are out of the country we rely on an agent to look after the property and tenants on our behalf.

We are completely unhappy with their service and have decided to look into changing. This seems rather difficult and I wondered if anyone else had managed to do this, as they seem to have covered for this in their contract.

Would we need to proove breach of contract?

Any advise would be much appreciated.

[tenant29]

Hi I'm new to this forum, so apologises if this has been discussed in the past but I could not find anything specific.

We have been rented our property in the UK for the last 2 years as we have moved aboard for work. We rent our property through an agent, which when we left the country were to local friendly (approved) agents in the area. Very nice people, orgainsed etc. About 1 year ago the company got bought out by a company in london and they now run their maintenance department and accounts departments from london and separately. We have had problems with them ever since, and they always argue and become defensive when we asked about the costs of maintenance that they arrange on the house. eg. 180GBP to replace the bathroom taps, when we think only the washers needed replacing. Anyway, their attitude on the phone seems to be to the protection of the tenants not us. As we are out of the country we rely on an agent to look after the property and tenants on our behalf.

We are completely unhappy with their service and have decided to look into changing. This seems rather difficult and I wondered if anyone else had managed to do this, as they seem to have covered for this in their contract.

Would we need to proove breach of contract?

Any advise would be much appreciated.

Does your letting agent's agreement state any notice period ? The letting agent may be holding the tenants deposit for the duration of the tenancy agreement. Best to claim back your flat for personal use at the end of the current tenancy agreement.

[Paul_f]

What the new agent should have done immediately theyb took over is present you with a new terms of business, as it doesn't automatically follow that the obsolete agency's terms still apply.

All terms of business MUST have a termination clause otherwise they are cancellable without any notice by yourself.

[Daytona]

We are completely unhappy with their service and have decided to look into changing. This seems rather difficult and I wondered if anyone else had managed to do this, as they seem to have covered for this in their contract.

Are they members of ARLA, NAEA or NALS ?

It should be straightforward but depends upon their terms of business.

[della]

Hi thanks for all the replies,
my agents are a member of Arla, I'll check the contract they gave us when the new company took over for a cancellation clause. It's alot more difficult dealing with this when you're not in the same country!

[Paul_W]

I have an interest in this one.
My current agents have just written to inform me that as of 5 April they will be charging VAT on management fees and any maintenance work performed.
Nice of them to give me only 10 days notice.
My agreement with them is for 12 months, that was over two years ago.
However there is a clause stating I must "pay them the management fee on the current rent until the end of the current lease"

My concern is that having given notice, the agents will be slow to transfer rent payments, keys etc to me or any new agent. they are not registered ARLA etc, but are property investing "colleagues"