Zoodoo
23-03-2010, 12:41 PM
Hello everyone
I've only just come across this forum, silly me, wish I'd found it ages ago.
I have a question I hope you can help me with (well its almost 3!). Sorry the message is a bit rambling - am trying to paint a full picture!
I have a flat which was originally on an 18month AST agreement through a large agency (which I have a "pet" name for but I don't want to get thrown off the forum on my first post!). I had hoped to use another agency but this one was so fast in finding a great tenant. And I do love my tenants.
Anyway, the agreement ran out just over 6 months ago and I was hounded by the renewals lady and (sadly) I was too busy to look into things properly (no excuse I know) and just agreed as they gave me a "discount" from the previous 11% to 7%. Bargain (not).
That was for 6 months. That has now run out already and the new renewals person has been hounding me again. I told him the tenants wanted to stay til July 31 and that was what I had agreed with them.
He sent us both out a renewal form which my tenant signed but I have not. He called and called and emailed and emailed but I was asking him to show me what I had signed that required me to continue with said agency and to pay them commission. He did send me something but it was so poor resolution that I couldnt read it and asked for it again or for it to be posted. He got very annoyed with me and threatened to charge me 6 months fees if I didn't sign. Anyway - am waffling, but it turns out I didn't sign a renewal last time either nor this time - and the tenant didn't sign one last time.
Then on seeing my bank balance yesterday the agents have paid me the rent minus their commission.
My question is can they do this?
And if not, could they charge me the last time they renewed with no documents?
And lastly, if I just carry on with my tenants (excluding the agent) how does the tenant get back their deposit paid to the agent?
Thanks very much
I've only just come across this forum, silly me, wish I'd found it ages ago.
I have a question I hope you can help me with (well its almost 3!). Sorry the message is a bit rambling - am trying to paint a full picture!
I have a flat which was originally on an 18month AST agreement through a large agency (which I have a "pet" name for but I don't want to get thrown off the forum on my first post!). I had hoped to use another agency but this one was so fast in finding a great tenant. And I do love my tenants.
Anyway, the agreement ran out just over 6 months ago and I was hounded by the renewals lady and (sadly) I was too busy to look into things properly (no excuse I know) and just agreed as they gave me a "discount" from the previous 11% to 7%. Bargain (not).
That was for 6 months. That has now run out already and the new renewals person has been hounding me again. I told him the tenants wanted to stay til July 31 and that was what I had agreed with them.
He sent us both out a renewal form which my tenant signed but I have not. He called and called and emailed and emailed but I was asking him to show me what I had signed that required me to continue with said agency and to pay them commission. He did send me something but it was so poor resolution that I couldnt read it and asked for it again or for it to be posted. He got very annoyed with me and threatened to charge me 6 months fees if I didn't sign. Anyway - am waffling, but it turns out I didn't sign a renewal last time either nor this time - and the tenant didn't sign one last time.
Then on seeing my bank balance yesterday the agents have paid me the rent minus their commission.
My question is can they do this?
And if not, could they charge me the last time they renewed with no documents?
And lastly, if I just carry on with my tenants (excluding the agent) how does the tenant get back their deposit paid to the agent?
Thanks very much