Discover Hertford Online Forum

Reply ID 60898

None at all. Ashwood has been fine with all the people I know who use them. However, they are good landlords with immaculate properties, so how they deal with bad one's I couldn't say. Excuses to keep deposits are common, I'm afraid, but usually it's a landlord trying to claim wear and tear as damage. In your case, it sounds like the landlord was not doing their part from day one and also agreed to the termination of the tenancy early. You may have to demonstrate that you can prove both to turn it around. Did you take any pictures and keep co-respondance regarding the faults at you previous home? Was the offer of a month's rent verbal, by letter or email?

Reply ID 60899

We've had good experiences with Ashwood. I think they can sometimes come across as being a bit scatty, but I think that's the worse thing I can say about them.

Reply ID 60901

You should always ensure that you get everything in writing from landlords and agents. An inventory is a vital piece of evidence if you want to fight your case after the event. Deposits are now required, by law, to be registered with either the DPS (a government based scheme) or by a deposit scheme registered and underwritten by insurers. Who has your deposit. If the landlord has it and it has not been registered, then he is breaking the law. With the current trend for estate agents becoming letting agents, problems are going to become more common. Lettings is a very tricky business and requires and indepth knowledge of laws for covering landlords, tenants and agents. Shop around and take advice before committing to anything as serious as taking out tenancy agreements with agents that you don't trust

Reply ID 60902

Nothing in writing! I wrote to them about it...they never replied to any of my letters. I took photos of everything and have documentation form Transco when they came round to condemn the gas supply to the house because of ’unsafe insulation’.

Reply ID 60905

Ask who has your deposit and if it registered. Email me if you want some advice

Reply ID 60906

your deposit only has to be held in a TDS if you entered into an AST agreement from the 6th April 2007. if your landlord hasnt done that then they have committed a criminal offense. You will also be entitled to civil redress in terms of the return of the capital amount of the deposit in addition to x3 the amount of the deposit as compensation. You will have to issue county court proceedings to recover this however. I have sued 2 people over this in the past and both have settled out of court to save time and expense - however it is a strict liability offense - we only settled as it was a small claim and they wouldn't get their costs back. You should have a prescribed letter from the landlord/letting agent informing you your deposit is protected in XYZ scheme and here is the unique reference number. If you don't have this they have dropped a bollock.

Reply ID 60909

just a couple of photo's of the house http://s556.photobucket.com/albums/ss6/porkie_001/EBAY/EBAY/HOUSE/ I can not get anything in writing from Ashwoods, I can not even get them to reply to my letters. They are not registered with anyone, do not have an answer phone, email address or emergancy phone number. The worst thing I can not get anything in writing saying that it was ok for me move out. They could chase me for rent until the end of the contract in October 2009. They are not showing house and since handing my keys in last Thursday have not even been to the house. my deposit is held with a scheme but they can not help me as i can not get anything in writing from Ashwoods.

Reply ID 60910

Looking at the photos, this a perfect example of why an inventory should have been demanded.

Reply ID 60911

Yes I was totally naive, I have asked but as usual I’m ignored. Ashwoods told me that a photographic inventory was taken but I have never seen it or signed one. I have a very detailed inventory in the new house :0)

Reply ID 61093

quote:

---

Originally posted by hearts
My son & I moved into a house in Wellington Street rented through ASHWOOD. There were a number of things wrong with house along with boilers being ripped...and left in the garden along with pipes etc for months. Water leaks, gas leeks and live wires in my son’s room caused by shoddy workman ship I couldn’t let my son in the garden because of the green house that the Landlord refused to move we decided to move... as compensation ASHWOOD said we didn’t have to pay rent for one month. Has anyone else had trouble with ASHWOOD in Hertford?

---

Reply ID 61095

The unsafe boiler in your sons room looks horrific, i'm glad you got out asap. Do Ashwoods or any other rental agency not view properties before they decide to take on marketing them ?

Reply ID 61169

quote:

---

Ashwoods employ the worst heating and plumbing engineer Hertford has to offer........His work is truly awful……I’ve seen it first hand and had to pay good money to put it right. The photos are typical of the standard ……………

---

Reply ID 61179

I don't want to go down the road of nameing names without the knowledge of knowing who it was that did the work on your previous property, all I can say is that all the hallmarks are there that would suggest the person in question is one and the same........

Reply ID 61181

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mr fixit
I don't want to go down the road of nameing names without the knowledge of knowing who it was that did the work on your previous property, all I can say is that all the hallmarks are there that would suggest the person in question is one and the same........

---

Reply ID 61185

My experience with Ashwood letting out my flat was not positive; they are a bit scatty but this attitude resulted in my tenant dropping in the keys and leaving, resulting in a 3 week rental void which meant it was difficult to make my mortgage payment. They are nice people but I was not impressed with the level of service they actually offered and would not use them again should I need a letting agent.

Reply ID 63175

quote:

---

Originally posted by hearts

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mr fixit
I don't want to go down the road of nameing names without the knowledge of knowing who it was that did the work on your previous property, all I can say is that all the hallmarks are there that would suggest the person in question is one and the same........

---

Hi Mr fixit , I'm not sure I should name names but I would be very interested to know if it was the same person. please feel free to email me at [email protected] or 07950601499. thank you

---