Any private landlords out there?
Discussion
mondeoman said:
Serve the 21, 2 months later they're gone. Job jobbed.
You're not a landlord are you.What you say is great in theory.... but as we all know.....
OP. These guys are going to give you trouble and it looks like they know how to play the system. Someone has already mentioned landlordzone, and I would also recommend National Landlords Association (fee is tax deductable)
Yes, the tenancy agreement reads "AST Agreement under the Housing Act 1988 (as amended by the Housing Act 1996)".
Weird that the agents told me that I don't need to serve 2 months notice then. Perhaps I should go speak to them face-to-face as there seem to be too much confusion over emails and even phone calls.
Weird that the agents told me that I don't need to serve 2 months notice then. Perhaps I should go speak to them face-to-face as there seem to be too much confusion over emails and even phone calls.
crazy about cars said:
Yes, the tenancy agreement reads "AST Agreement under the Housing Act 1988 (as amended by the Housing Act 1996)".
Weird that the agents told me that I don't need to serve 2 months notice then. Perhaps I should go speak to them face-to-face as there seem to be too much confusion over emails and even phone calls.
TBH, I'd be happier receiving incorrect professional advice in writing, as that's easier to quote later Weird that the agents told me that I don't need to serve 2 months notice then. Perhaps I should go speak to them face-to-face as there seem to be too much confusion over emails and even phone calls.
mk1fan said:
You terminate their instruction to act. Your contract with them may have some terms regarding minimum term or a notice period, so read that.
Yes this is correct. Mine is on a rolling contract after the 1st year. I have the options to only opt for "marketing only" package though where they will advertise and also manage viewings and background checks. However after the contract is signed you are on your own. Initially I was going down this route but rather let the agents have a cut after recent experience.What I am thinking to do after being advised is to let the contract continue under a rolling basis. This was I don't need to wait to serve notice. 2 days to go to find out if this time they have setup the DD correctly. Noticed their Nissan Qashqai is now been replaced by spanking new A Class too so hopefully the payment come on time this time...
crazy about cars said:
so hopefully the payment come on time this time...
What you'll find with tenants is some you'll never hear from - they'll pay on time & never really bother you at all & the other ones you need to keep on top of. These are the ones that moan about every little thing they can.It can be stressful though, I can appreciate that. Can you go & see them & introduce yourself? Maybe phone them today & remind them the rent is due tomorrow & then phone them again tomorrow?
I've got a tenant like that in one of our places. He's a pretty good tenant to be honest, but if I don't chase him a couple of days before & then on the due day, I won't get paid on time.
northwest monkey said:
What you'll find with tenants is some you'll never hear from - they'll pay on time & never really bother you at all & the other ones you need to keep on top of. These are the ones that moan about every little thing they can.
It can be stressful though, I can appreciate that. Can you go & see them & introduce yourself? Maybe phone them today & remind them the rent is due tomorrow & then phone them again tomorrow?
I've got a tenant like that in one of our places. He's a pretty good tenant to be honest, but if I don't chase him a couple of days before & then on the due day, I won't get paid on time.
I've actually gone over once during the first month of their tenancy to fix some minor faults for them. Dad seemed nice enough and was going on about how an honest tenant he is... Since I have an agent I'll let them handle this until my involvement is needed. My first tenants always paid on time (direct debit) no excuses and even hired professional cleaners when they moved out. The current tenant I spent £££ connecting their extra dishwasher for them and also sorting some lights for them which on hindsight I'm massively regretting now!It can be stressful though, I can appreciate that. Can you go & see them & introduce yourself? Maybe phone them today & remind them the rent is due tomorrow & then phone them again tomorrow?
I've got a tenant like that in one of our places. He's a pretty good tenant to be honest, but if I don't chase him a couple of days before & then on the due day, I won't get paid on time.
I spoke with my lettings agent.
They informed me that to terminate my agreement with them would cost me £600.
So I smashed them down from a 15% management fee to 10% because they haven't done anything to warrant their fee other than collect the rent(i didn't let on that I just don't have a spare £600 right now).
I told the manager that if she wants the business then she needs to drop the fee, that i could recover the termination fee in 4 months so it was no bother to me either way.
In six months when they've had chance to screw up the account again, I'll go back and demand a further reduction. By then they'll have given me half their termination fee anyway purely in the savings on the managment fee!.
They informed me that to terminate my agreement with them would cost me £600.
So I smashed them down from a 15% management fee to 10% because they haven't done anything to warrant their fee other than collect the rent(i didn't let on that I just don't have a spare £600 right now).
I told the manager that if she wants the business then she needs to drop the fee, that i could recover the termination fee in 4 months so it was no bother to me either way.
In six months when they've had chance to screw up the account again, I'll go back and demand a further reduction. By then they'll have given me half their termination fee anyway purely in the savings on the managment fee!.
E-B said:
I spoke with my lettings agent.
They informed me that to terminate my agreement with them would cost me £600.
They informed me that to terminate my agreement with them would cost me £600.
I hope new landlords reading this will in future read their contract with agents. Negotiate this crap out. I once got stung for annual renewal fees even if the tenant goes periodic and the agent did diddly squat (tenant find only agreement). Never again. I insist its removed from any agency contract I sign. And I say this as a former (sales) agent. All this sneaky stuff wasn't there back in the day. If you weren't performing you were got rid of, and rightly so. No making the client jump through hoops or pay you money just because you aren't doing your job properly!
FUBAR said:
E-B said:
I spoke with my lettings agent.
They informed me that to terminate my agreement with them would cost me £600.
They informed me that to terminate my agreement with them would cost me £600.
I hope new landlords reading this will in future read their contract with agents. Negotiate this crap out. I once got stung for annual renewal fees even if the tenant goes periodic and the agent did diddly squat (tenant find only agreement). Never again. I insist its removed from any agency contract I sign. And I say this as a former (sales) agent. All this sneaky stuff wasn't there back in the day. If you weren't performing you were got rid of, and rightly so. No making the client jump through hoops or pay you money just because you aren't doing your job properly!
dazwalsh said:
the lack of sufficient regulation for letting agents mean they can pretty much charge what they want. I am glad i manage my own properties.
Yep, me too.I use a guy who charges me £59 to advertise on all the main portals, RM, globrix, Gumtree etc etc, send me the e-mail leads, I arrange viewings etc, he can send a board to erect, and he can if you want (extra) do the FULL referencing plus report on potential rent. My father likened his service as excellent, like an agent, but without the Audi A3, pin stripe suit, bull s
t, stupid contacts. People told me it wouldn’t work. It does, I get more leads than any of the major high street “brands” can deliver, but without the crap.
Oh, and I cant understand why people are paying 15% “management” fees. What are the agents managing? Payments? Nope. Tenants? Nope. Whats the 15% for? The management of the money? Nope.
I would be paying them 0% and getting someone to put their shop window through.
Its an absolute doddle to find a tenant at the moment, the sheer demand for housing means i don't have any place empty more than a week or 2. Its a lot of running about but I go meet all the prospective tenants, think it helps to meet them face to face and they know they aren't dealing with any third parties , no stupid fees, just a deposit and a months rent upfront with a couple of references and they are in.
I'm not against letting agencies as such because i know they are the only option for out of town landlords etc but the fees charged by certain ones are just bordering on ridiculous, and any fee that is hidden in terms and conditions and pages and pages of small print is just disgusting if you ask me.
I'm not against letting agencies as such because i know they are the only option for out of town landlords etc but the fees charged by certain ones are just bordering on ridiculous, and any fee that is hidden in terms and conditions and pages and pages of small print is just disgusting if you ask me.
Well the time has come to collect rent and guess what... no money in account. This is after all the kerfaffle and tenants "promising" that this time the direct debit is properly setup.
I told his agents to serve notice if payment is not in my account by this Friday (rent due 29th Nov but apparently need 5+ working days for money to transfer over). Enough is enough!
What really boils my piss is seeing them in spanking new Merc - why can they afford a new car but can't afford paying rent? I am hoping for them to vacate by end of contract but I am bracing myself for further problems...
I told his agents to serve notice if payment is not in my account by this Friday (rent due 29th Nov but apparently need 5+ working days for money to transfer over). Enough is enough!
What really boils my piss is seeing them in spanking new Merc - why can they afford a new car but can't afford paying rent? I am hoping for them to vacate by end of contract but I am bracing myself for further problems...
Edited by crazy about cars on Tuesday 4th December 13:23
FlashmanChop said:
Oh, and I cant understand why people are paying 15% “management” fees. What are the agents managing? Payments? Nope. Tenants? Nope. Whats the 15% for? The management of the money? Nope.
I would be paying them 0% and getting someone to put their shop window through.
To be fair I pay around 10% and this covers everything from advertising, placing signs, background checks, 3-monthly property checks, collecting payments,making sure gas+leccy+council tax updated, contract signing, property inspect etc etc. Sure, there are some frustration with the agent but as a busy person (and first time landlord) I find their service mostly helpful. It's just the current tenants now that are major pain in the arse!I would be paying them 0% and getting someone to put their shop window through.
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