UK Landlord Forum / Life

Dear all,

This may seem like a rant but I am getting very annoyed with my letting agent (who acts on behalf of my landlord)
I've been a tenant in my property for nearly 5yrs.
When I moved here for work I needed to get somewhere ASAP so signed up with YM for a 12 month AST
I wasn't happy with the recurring fees they stated in the contract and said we would cross this after the AST contractual period.
Low and behold I got a form to fill in with a payment of £125 to make to stay in the property.

I contested this Only to find very aggressive tactics from YM
I managed to speak to the landlord direct who helped my cause (as she knows her property is being Looked after) and she agreed to let me move to a Statutory Periodic Tenancy.
This was back in July 2016.

Now I am here again in 2020, battling with YM who are trying to renew my contract
Even offering to waive their fees if I sign up for a new tenancy.

I'm sick to death of their pressures and wonder how others would deal with this type of approach from Letting Agent.

Why would I relinquish my SPT after all this time

PS: one more question
Their offer to waive the fee is subject to their outstanding visit to check the property.
They do this twice a year, normally at their leisure.
I have yet to agree a visit date with them due to this ongoing barrage of asking me to sign a new tenancy agreement
While I wouldn't mind the landlord visiting, I really have lost faith in this Letting Agent acting On their behalf and just want to ignore them


Thoughts please ?x

Mick

I'm assuming you're in England. Shout if you're elsewhere.

Quote from: Mickos on February 02, 2020, 10:44:27 AM
Now I am here again in 2020, battling with YM who are trying to renew my contract
Even offering to waive their fees if I sign up for a new tenancy.

That's very generous of them, considering they're legally not allowed to charge the tenant any fees anymore.

Since you're on good terms with the LL and have direct contact if want, just say no, you're happy with things as they are. It's doesn't sound like the LL would try and evict you.

Yes, in UK.
I thought the same about fees, but don't really know how my original AST T&Cs are carried into my PST.
When I received the letter from YM stating I was on a PST all that was added was info about terms of termination of Tenancy if by myself or LL

LL is fine.
Just tied in with YM it seems she can't escape either.

I am just fed up with the Letting Agent and don't want any further engagement, apart from sending them the rent on time.

You have exactly the same legal protection on a periodic tenancy as an AST (same for the landlord) You can't refuse to deal with the agent when it comes to inspections,or repairs etc.Just ignore their requests for renewal,don't respond.

Quote from: Mickos on February 02, 2020, 01:42:55 PM
Yes, in UK.

When I wrote "England", I specifically meant England, not the UK as a whole. Different legislations applies in the rest of the UK.

And to clarify, the fees the LA is talking about, are they in relation to the existing tenancy, or for signing up to a new one?

Sorry for not specifying England.

Their 'waiving of fee' is if I sign up to a new AST and relinquish my SPT

Quote from: Mickos on February 02, 2020, 10:44:27 AM...and just want to ignore them

You can't just ignore them for normal operational running of the tenancy, you don't have that option until the time the Landlord tells you otherwise (even if the Landlord maintains a relationship with their Agent they might be happy if you short-circuit direct, but we can't assume that). But you should be easily able to put the tenancy renewal to bed without it causing you too much angst - reply once, state your decision and ensure it's on the record, then ignore any further approaches. I might well be missing something, but it seems easy, at least to me? Furthermore, I don't know what a "barrage" might be but, don't worry about it... your SPT is safe.

Appreciate all your replies and take on board continuing to accept and comply with the LA requests for ongoing tenancy checks etc.

Nothing untoward from my side.
I used barrage as I've just had to deal with this LA last month on another matter of GDPR as they sent my personal details in regards to this tenancy renewal request to another Tenant of theirs 
This other tenant contacted me to say he had all my info.
So for me it has just been one battle after another with them.

Best wishes

And thanks for all the responses on a Sunday as well 👍