UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi and I wonder if anyone else has encountered this problem and can advise me on what options I have. Basically one of my letting agents owes me money. I'm 99% sure that my tenant has been paying his rent on a regular basis but I've been chasing my agent for over a year on late payments. They don't answer their phones, they don't respond to my messages and now the mobile number they gave me appears to be unobtainable! The property and therefore the agent are over 150 miles away from where I live which makes it very difficult to manage myself, although I will probably have to do that.

What options are available to me to get my money??

Plus what do I need to do from a legal perspective if I wish to give them notice, notwithstanding the fact that they owe me money and still have the tenants deposit?

Any help gratefully received.
Regards
Nige Howarth

Hello nighow,

I assume they are generally late with the money each month, rather than they owe you one year's back rent.

So write them a letter.  State you find it unacceptable that they are:
+ Consistently late payers;
+ With no adequate explanation
+ Uncontactable.

In the letter: Give them one more payment due date.  If it's not done by the book (i.e. prompt payment or they contact you to let you know why not) then you are cancelling the contract and moving to a new agent.  Point out that any "penalty fees" in the contract wil not apply because they have failed to offer the level of service offered when you signed up to them.

If they mess you around.  Follow the threats through.

Usually, people's gut feel is reliable.  If they're holding onto rent money, it could be because they are having to use it to finance themselves.  Which is bad news, means they're close to the endge of insolvency.  Or they are really bad at admin.  And who wants an agent who can't get basic admin right?!

Please let us know how you get on.