lovethechang
Established Member
I'm not sure whether this is the right forum to be putting it on, but I have listed this elsewhere and need to gauge peoples opinions and advice regarding my current problem with a letting agent. I am sorry it is long.
We moved into the property we are in in June 2008. A few things struck me AFTER we had moved in. For instance, the letting agent didn't bother to do a pre tenancy inspection, noting all the damage to the property. (I had to do the pre tenancy damage report 2 weeks after moving in after finding out they had bothered to do it.) Also, they didn't advise the electricity company that we had moved in, which meant they didn't have a correct opening meter reading which left us in the s**t. the reason for this was they didn't have a key to the electricity meter cupboard!!! I had to speak with a neighbour to gain access to the cupboard a month after moving in for readings and was pestering the LA every other day. Even when I did get the readings the LA didnt do anything with it.
Anyway, I digress. The main issues I have is that in December 2008, the property was repossessed by the bank and is now managed by a bank selected agent (A company called Touchstone) They have requested all paperwork concerning the property, some of which we are unable to supply as we have never received the documents from the old LA. One of such documents is the pre tenancy damage report. I handed it in to one of their staff members when he came around to check the damage I had put on the list. I have never received a printed copy of this. Also I have requested copies of receipts for the rent paid to the company, as they did start sending out receipts but mysteriously stopped.
What I want to know is what can I do to get the documents I require? I have been chasing the old letting agent since December on the phone, and every time I speak to them they say they will send them out to us but we never receive anything. We want to move out of this property in June (we are in a 3 bed apartment on 1st floor with triplets - we want to move into a house if possible) but without the damage report, we are going to be liable for all the damage that was present when we moved into the property. The receipts are not so important as I can supply bank statements if necessary but the damage report is essential.
Also, what happens with our deposit? The old letting agent has it tied up with something called the DPS - Deposit Protection Service/Scheme. Who authorises them to refund the money to us? The old letting agent or the new? I assume its the new one but how can they access the DPS as control of the property has changed hands?
I seem to be hitting a brick wall at the moment and don't know where to turn - I am in the process of writing a letter to the LA detailing what I want - should I advise them that if documents not received, then I shall consult legal advise? I really don't want to lose a £700 deposit because of their incompetence.
edit *** just found the letting agents code of practice on the website of the NAEA - various clauses in section 8 back my stance that I should have been furnished with the damage report as I moved in, and for me to have signed a copy of the report on their file and for me to have had a copy for my records. Is this sufficient to warrant a complaint to the NAEA for failure to abide by their code of practice?
We moved into the property we are in in June 2008. A few things struck me AFTER we had moved in. For instance, the letting agent didn't bother to do a pre tenancy inspection, noting all the damage to the property. (I had to do the pre tenancy damage report 2 weeks after moving in after finding out they had bothered to do it.) Also, they didn't advise the electricity company that we had moved in, which meant they didn't have a correct opening meter reading which left us in the s**t. the reason for this was they didn't have a key to the electricity meter cupboard!!! I had to speak with a neighbour to gain access to the cupboard a month after moving in for readings and was pestering the LA every other day. Even when I did get the readings the LA didnt do anything with it.
Anyway, I digress. The main issues I have is that in December 2008, the property was repossessed by the bank and is now managed by a bank selected agent (A company called Touchstone) They have requested all paperwork concerning the property, some of which we are unable to supply as we have never received the documents from the old LA. One of such documents is the pre tenancy damage report. I handed it in to one of their staff members when he came around to check the damage I had put on the list. I have never received a printed copy of this. Also I have requested copies of receipts for the rent paid to the company, as they did start sending out receipts but mysteriously stopped.
What I want to know is what can I do to get the documents I require? I have been chasing the old letting agent since December on the phone, and every time I speak to them they say they will send them out to us but we never receive anything. We want to move out of this property in June (we are in a 3 bed apartment on 1st floor with triplets - we want to move into a house if possible) but without the damage report, we are going to be liable for all the damage that was present when we moved into the property. The receipts are not so important as I can supply bank statements if necessary but the damage report is essential.
Also, what happens with our deposit? The old letting agent has it tied up with something called the DPS - Deposit Protection Service/Scheme. Who authorises them to refund the money to us? The old letting agent or the new? I assume its the new one but how can they access the DPS as control of the property has changed hands?
I seem to be hitting a brick wall at the moment and don't know where to turn - I am in the process of writing a letter to the LA detailing what I want - should I advise them that if documents not received, then I shall consult legal advise? I really don't want to lose a £700 deposit because of their incompetence.
edit *** just found the letting agents code of practice on the website of the NAEA - various clauses in section 8 back my stance that I should have been furnished with the damage report as I moved in, and for me to have signed a copy of the report on their file and for me to have had a copy for my records. Is this sufficient to warrant a complaint to the NAEA for failure to abide by their code of practice?