UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi - just today I found out that my letting agency has dissolved I have no keys to my house that I let out (I had them replaced because of a previous bad tenant but wasn't proactive enough to get a copy off the agency at the time.) - I am not sure if there is tenants their or not - the neighbours say that someone comes around once a week but I haven't had rent in two months now (that's how I found out the tenant agency was dissolved after a quick internet search - there offices no longer exist either).  I looked through the window of my house and it looks like it has been trashed and gutted also. 

My question is what do I do - do I tell the police - do I just break in and change the locks - advice would be appreciated - thanks.

Andy.

I am not one to say but it seems to me you have been conned (keep in mind i have never been a landlord). But there is a new con going round at the moment.

Have you used the letting agency before?

how long have they ran for?

have you knocked on the door?

Did you ask for the keys to be changed?

Rumours have spreaded in northampton, UK about this they will say they are letting agent (never been heard of before) and take the keys and take deposit from somebody wanted to rent it then vanish into thin air. If there is anybody living in there i should think they are on the same side as you as they have been conned too.

There should be some sort of regualtor for letting and estate agents they should be able to help you

Hello Rockandy79,

Please search the blogs on the main site about termination of the tenancy.  Go carefully.  Ensure you do not end up in a position where a canny tenant traps you into making it appear that you have harassed them out of the house.  Come back if you don't find what you need in the blogs.

Have you used the letting agency before?

Never used them before - they were called Best Lettings and ran by a weasel called Michael Mooney

how long have they ran for?

I thing they had been going since 2008

have you knocked on the door?

I knocked on the door but no one was home - the post in the porch suggested that no one has been there for a week at least.

Did you ask for the keys to be changed?

I did agree to it as a previous bad tenant ran out but didn't get any copies like an idiot.

Okay update - got a vm from Michael Mooney of Best Lettings (Dissolved Company) after I rang his other active company 'Answerphone Angel' to speak to him.

He said it was Mike from Best Lettings and promised the usual i'm paying the rent today etc, etc.

Further question - is this legal (say he has turned to a sole trader) or fraud as he is still pretending to be a letting agency - and who can I report this to - an ombudsman or authority etc.

your not silly its little important things u forget, i forget everything so ur not the only one, Is he giving you a key?

Thanks Gail262 

He says he is coming round at 3pm tomorrow to meet with all the paperwork I have requested and keys - will see if this actually happens and he has promised that all outstanding rent would be paid today.  Again I will see if this actually happens.

Hi Rockyandy79,

I would get in contact with either ARLA, TPOS or The office of fair trading. These bodies will be able to help you in the right direct.

Again another case or a cowboy agent giving the rest of us a bad name. By the sound of it this agent won't be ARLA registered so go there last, but he maybe registered with the property ombudsman service (TPOS) but the office of fair trading will definitely help you.

The sooner that Letting agents are regulated the better in my opinion, will help get rid of the cowboy agents and turn this industry back to a save and protected area for landlords and their investments.

Hope this helps.