UK Landlord Forum / Life

My late Uncle died in December 2013. He lived in rented property which I believe is owned and managed by the same company. His rent was completely up to date; in fact he had paid more as it was in advance. He had lived in the property for the whole of his 76 years with his mother and father living there before he was born. He has always paid his rent on time.

The Letting Agent was notified by the police, the coroners office, the neighbour and me that their tenant had died. I also emptied the house and returned the key to the address I had; their head office in London.

I never heard a thing until March when they sent an invoice for unpaid rent in my name (which I had never given them and to my personal address, which I had never given them). I responded explaining that they had been notified of their tenant's death and I sent a further death certificate.

They acknowledged receipt of the death certificate.

I received a further invoice for unpaid rent. I wrote again to explain the situation and they said there was still a liability as the key was not returned to the local office. They said that once they had received the key there would be no liability for rent.

I informed them that a key had been sent to the London office, but as it happened I had found a spare and sent that recorded delivery at the beginning of April explaining that as I had already notified them that the property was vacant and returned the key there was no liability for rent.

Today I received an invoice for unpaid rent for £1,499!

I have obviously written again recorded delivery, but in the meantime what re-dress do I have? This is amounting to harassment.

This is shoody work by the Agent.

You need the CAB, or if you can afford it a solicitor.

As you say, you have done all the right things, and they are picking at the scab. They need a legal letter telling them to back off or face the consequences.