LouthLass

Hi all, Think I have had some positive news today from my tenant, she phoned the old letting agent and they told her to call in sometime next week to collect a cheque for her deposit!! This is such a relief I must say. In the meantime they have emailed me an invoice for the commission due on the tenancy agreement which they claim ends in Nov 09 - they have no signed copy of this tenancy agreement - this was the straw that broke the camels back in my dealing with them, the old TA ended beginning of May and despite my numerous calls and emails they never got the tenant to sign a new one, they do not have a tenancy agreement that ends Nov 09 in their possession!! I advised them that I was in touch with TDS who told me that they did not have a legal basis to withold the deposit from my tenant - again the dispute was between myself and them, not the tenant so therefore she should not suffer because of our 'disagreement'. I am adamant that I do not owe them anything because I believe they broke the contract before I did therefor making it null and void and also they never succeeded in obtaining a new tenancy agreement!! We live and learn, what do other posters think?? Kind regards LL

Many thanks, from speaking to the tenant in the last hour, I also confirmed they do not have a copy of the tenancy agreement, the tenant sent it direct to me based on their failure to get it organised! Does this make a difference??

Can anyone help point me in the right direction as I am at my wits end. Today I finally sacked the agent I was using as their service was absolutely ridiculous. However, they have now sent me an email stating they want the commission for the remainder of the agreement and until they receive this then they will not release the tenant's deposit. They claim to be registered with TDS. However, do they have a right to withold my tenants deposit? The dispute is between myself and the agent - not the tenant! As far as I am concerned she is fully entitled to recover this amount and pass it on to the new agent I hired. Any advice on this would be much appreciated. Kind regards LL

Hi all, Really hope someone will be able to point me in right direction with this one!! Basically, I want to get rid of my property agent as for the last few months there have been a number of issues that I have not been happy with, latest being the current tenancy agreement has ran out in April and to date a renewal contract has still not been signed with the tenant. Got in touch with the tenant direct and she confirmed it was only received today - despite my numerous calls and emails to the agent for the past month and a half!!! The tenant is happy with the house and wants to stay for at least another year, I'm happy with my tenant also but the only spoiling factor is the agent- they are not doing their job properly as far as I am concerned and I want to get rid of them - however, my concern is that my tenant has paid them a £500 deposit, if I terminate their services, would my tenant be entitled to claim it back from the agents?? I obviously dont want my tenant to suffer because of my disagreement with the agent - can I make the agent pay it to me direct or would the tenant have cause to claim it direct from them and then pay direct to me?? I should mention that I am not a professional investor or landlord, I had to leave the UK for employment reasons and had to rent my home out and thought the best way to do this was through a 'professional' agent - total novice!! Any help or advice at this stage would be much appreciated. Kind regards LL