Topic ID 613
Why is it no matter how respectfull a tennant you are, you always seem to get done over (for lack of a better phrase) this isn't really a Hertford matter, but it does involve a Hertoford based agency and a Hertford based private landlord! Also why does the law always seem to protect the guilty! Ahhh sorry rant over!
Reply ID 6186
You have my sympathies Mike. I had the misfortune to rent through a Hertford Agency for a while.They all but accused me of being a crook before i had even moved in. It's only because the house owner is a friend of mine that I didn't tell the agent to poke the deal where the sun don't shine. What was interesting was the different stories the agent was telling me and the the house owner, not knowing that we were talking to each other direct.
Reply ID 6191
I hated renting. I really looked after my house (which was in a state) and even redecorated the bathroom in a tasteful way with their permission yet they still wanted me to pay to have the 60 million year old cooker professionally cleaned when I left!
Reply ID 6200
I'm glad its not just me, sorry for the random post, was looking through the forum when I had a phonecall to say I had to pay £250 to get my deposit back! So my fury resulted in a new topic! I agreed when moving into my previous place that we could decorate the main room as it was a horrible purple colour with deep grey silk woodwork. Now apparently even though we returned the room to a neutral white including woodwork (skirting & window sill) which took ages! the landlord and the lettings agency dont like it!!!! What a lot of rubbish! He also changed his mind three times about what he wasn't happy with, he didn't provide me with any quotes etc... prior to having the work done. So I was given a bill that not only had I not agreed should be ours but also he called me by telephone to tell me that he had had the work done and it cost £250! So no agreement on what was going to be done, no agreement on when/ by whom or for how much! So I am now trying to find out if there is anything I can do, but the law always goes with the landlords from what I can see so i'm stuffed! Am still fuming! So anyone in the legal business? or know any one? pref that doesn't charge! LOL
Reply ID 6206
jeepers I really feel for you - landlords seem to think that so long as the property is habitable, that's fine! My bathroom had peeling floral pink wallpaper with a beige suite and was plain disgusting. The rest of the place had been painted with such cheap paint and so thinly that you could see through it in places and the window frames & sills were peeling. The heating had to be fixed 3 times in my 18mths in that particular property too. Now I've bought my own thank goodness and decorated to my hearts content! If at all possible, I woudl recommend renting from a friend directly as that was what I had done originally before he decided to sell and things were perfect.
Reply ID 6216
Well, I think I will be ok now (fingers crossed) my new landlord is a retired builder, really nice bloke and there are no agencys involved to speak of. However I have this issue with them wanting to keep £250 of the deposit and the property before that for which I have had none of my deposit and has gone to the ombudsman! I have a lot of luck! Will be 2 years minimum untill I can even think about getting onto the property ladder. I suppose I have to just grin and bare it!
Reply ID 6217
call it a learning experience [;)]
Reply ID 6218
quote:Hmmmm yes i'm at senior school now!!! As a friend of mine said you almost need to go into renting a property with the view to your deposit being a handling fee which you are unlikely to have returned. Is completely rediculous though! On a what is to me a funnier/stranger note, the lady that I have had the main issues with works at County lettings, I saw her today showing a family round a house that was being sold by shepherds? Seems a little strange!
call it a learning experience
Reply ID 6219
you never know, it could have been her house....
Reply ID 6220
Nope, I was working on my car out side it was the house opposite, now i'm not one to listen to others conversations etc.... but she was def there as an estate agent!
Reply ID 6222
It could be worse, you could be the landlord. I had to rent out my first property and live with my parents (bought at the height of the market in 1988). One bloke disappeared overnight leaving £1000 of bills, the flat was filthy and he took anything that wasn't nailed down. God help him if I ever see him again.
Reply ID 6223
I am now thinking of renting our's out. It seem's that Landlords can get away with anything - hovever, my consious would not allow it unless it was worth the money for both parties. I have seen a flat near our's and I would not want to live there. Renting is expensive, but the choice is there.
Reply ID 6225
I know I would not be renting if I had a choice but we all know how hard it is to get on the property ladder... so I wont start that one! Yep I can see why the law tends to protect landlords over tennants as probably 90% ofthe time it is the tennants at fault. Unfortunatly that doesn't help me! Oh and I think i'd have hired a private detective for that! surely worthwhile when it could have saved that amount of money!
Reply ID 6228
Good luck - you'll get your own in the end. Luckily I started on the trail 20 odd years ago - been through the ups and downs of the market though. Wouldn't have a hope now....
Reply ID 6243
Rented in Germany for 3 years...there the law clearly states what is expected of both parties and the condition the proprty must be given back in. Makes life very simple and you're not always looking out for scheister landlords.
Reply ID 6284
have rented to the tennents from hell!!! and it made me more cautious than ever about renting again. i think its a mine field for all concerned..as landlord i lost out on a lot they trashed the place destroyed everything in it stole what they could and left with out paying rent for six months. it cost me a fortune the letting agency used where rubbish.
Reply ID 6458
Dawn, that sounds like a nightmare! although is a strange way makes me feel better, as clearly my situation could be worse! Carlos, I have been to CAB and we spent about 10 mins dicussing just that! the law in this country seems almost designed to be flaunted by all parties, fortunatly for me it looks like I too have found a loophole (godbless the loopholes!)
Reply ID 6461
One thing in Germany is that because the law is so clear, landlords are quite willing to do longer lets. My 3 years were covered by one contract with predetermined rent rises stated. One year of renting here was two contracts.To me this sort of contract allows fair minded (dare i say normal) people on both sides of the argument not to be treated like scum/crooks/villains etc. etc. Just to give some examples of what is expected over there: A) The property is to be received and handed back with all walls painted white (unless otherwise agreed beforehand). B) In a longer let the landlord MUST decorate the kitchen and bathroom every 5 years. C) Deposit held in a seperate account which must be countersigned by the tenant, Landlord, and bank before any funds are released. What do reckon the odds of any of those being incorporated over here are??
Reply ID 6474
Hmmmm, we should be so lucky! It does amaze me at how far behind some country's we are. My Mum has just finished working 6 months in Geneva, she rented a house there (for half the cost to what I pay for a maissonette I should say) she had 1 problem while in that house, the problem had been fixed within an hour of her phone call. She also got her deposit back on her last day as the landlord brought it over himself. I struggled to get my last landlord to look at the place when we left and am still 3 months on trying to get my deposit! Rediculous!
Reply ID 6475
quote:Surely the landlord cannot hold on to the deposit without due reason. I understand you probably do not want to hack them off but 3 months is ridiculous. Are there new tennants in the property?
Originally posted by 01-mike
Hmmmm, we should be so lucky! It does amaze me at how far behind some country's we are. My Mum has just finished working 6 months in Geneva, she rented a house there (for half the cost to what I pay for a maissonette I should say) she had 1 problem while in that house, the problem had been fixed within an hour of her phone call. She also got her deposit back on her last day as the landlord brought it over himself. I struggled to get my last landlord to look at the place when we left and am still 3 months on trying to get my deposit! Rediculous!
Reply ID 6476
I agree, it is so difficult here to be sure you're going to get 'nice' tenants and also to know you're going to have a good letting agent or landlord. Have always vowed to try and be the good one if I were to ever be in a position to let my property out!
Reply ID 6479
I'm not sure if he has new tennants yet, I know he didn't when I last spoke to him, but it has been taken off of the County lettings website so possibly they have now. The landlord believes he has reason, well at least the lettings agency has led him to believe he does! I am now having to go through the long drawn out process of recorded letters etc... in order to build a case to take to court it is time consuming and will evidently cost me a fair bit as well. I really do feel like taking the law into my own hands with this, if it wasn't for my current fractured pelvis I very possibly would have!
Reply ID 6597
quote:Maybe just coincidence, but I let from the same people and have done for nearly 4 years. The property I live has has lots of issues and needs serious work doing to it, I have told them and told them but they ignore me. Now we are looking at moving and are worried that they will keep our deposit. The tennant before us used lots of blue tack on the walls and covered the marks up with tipex, the carpets are stained as well. When we viewed the place the lady who showed us round said she was aware of this and we would not get the blame for it, but that was 4yrs ago and she has left the company. Where do we stand legally with this? I am willing to fight it if they try to take my deposit.
Originally posted by 01-mikequote:On a what is to me a funnier/stranger note, the lady that I have had the main issues with works at County lettings, I saw her today showing a family round a house that was being sold by shepherds? Seems a little strange!
call it a learning experience
Reply ID 6598
Do you have a written itinery of for the place....how many knives and forks....condition of the place?
Reply ID 6599
quote:If the previous occupier rented from the same letting agent then they will have a file on the property. This should include any statement on the condition of the property when the previous renter left.
Originally posted by Nickyquote:Maybe just coincidence, but I let from the same people and have done for nearly 4 years. The property I live has has lots of issues and needs serious work doing to it, I have told them and told them but they ignore me. Now we are looking at moving and are worried that they will keep our deposit. The tennant before us used lots of blue tack on the walls and covered the marks up with tipex, the carpets are stained as well. When we viewed the place the lady who showed us round said she was aware of this and we would not get the blame for it, but that was 4yrs ago and she has left the company. Where do we stand legally with this? I am willing to fight it if they try to take my deposit.
Originally posted by 01-mikequote:On a what is to me a funnier/stranger note, the lady that I have had the main issues with works at County lettings, I saw her today showing a family round a house that was being sold by shepherds? Seems a little strange!
call it a learning experience
Reply ID 6679
Yep as Ewoowar said, did you have an inventry? For my new place I have had an inventry done which was signed by 2 seperate parties myself and the landlord which also listed any existing damage etc... and I have taken Pictures of all dameage marks on walls be it tiny or large! It is stupid that you have to go to such lengths! I am still fighting for my deposit! If you do have trouble then got to CAB and they will advise as to what you can do. In the first instance check if you have an invantry, I would also call County Lettings and ask them to check their file and tell you what is stated about the copndition of the property. Good Luck!
Reply ID 6681
Seems we've all had the same nightmare. Last time I rented the letting agent came round to inspect it was all clean, checked the inventory of all the cutlery etc with me standing there, ticked off everything was clean, disinfected and tidy and 3 week's later, when the owners came back from abroad and after deposits returned to me and my friend, said the place wasn't clean pay back some money! I told him to stick it and as all signed off, nothing broken, burnt, stolen or otherwise better not call me again! or variation on a theme! I think its Hertford, there are bad tenants, not me, I cannot be bothered to make mine and others lives hell who benefits! It seems the honest do get clobbered, in the end I went into house sharing someone else's property with them, much nicer and no hassles at all on that front....
Reply ID 6682
There are some rented properties near my home. In recent years I have seen the following thrown the balconies; Food. A double mattress. A christmas tree. A person. In addition, the only naked people I have seen running up and down the road, steaming drunk, were the renters. I am sure some home owners do daft things too. But I can see why renters get a bad press and unfortunately the good, decent folk who rent get tarred with the same brush.
Reply ID 6684
Well there has to be more "good, decent folk" like myself! who rent given the rediculous property prices and impossible climb onto the first rung of the property ladder! afterall I believe i'm correct in saying that the avearage age for first time buyers has recently just passed 30! So at 23 by right I have a good few years renting yet! Hopefully in my case it will just be a couple!
Reply ID 6688
01-Mike, I'm sure there are. Quite a few of the properties near me were bought to rent and the state of them (when rented) not the tennants. I visited one recently - the agent got the wrong flat and name in relation to water damage - 2 of us scratching our heads as to how it could be us. The Landlord did not like the cost of repairs and said he's do it himself. If he could do it safely then why call people in to quote. I don't know if the cealing has fallen on their heads yet.[}:)] I suppose there are 2 sides to the coin - Good and Bad Landlords and Tennants. If we do rent this one out I hope I can be fair and have an agreed itinery, witnessed, with an idential set of agreed photo's of any damage each. That way photo's could not have subsequestly been taken. It's made me think more about the pro's and con's of renting. Buy the way I am old and have been on the Ladder for longer that I care to or can remember.[:)] GOOD LUCK
Reply ID 6690
Yes well at the tender age of 23 I have already gained more experience than I would have chosen! My advice now to either tennants or likewise to landlords, would be to go to CAB take advice prior to signing any agreements in terms of what agreement should be used and what precautions i.e photos signed by both parties plus witness etc... A lot of hassle but well worth it! and still no where near whats involved in purchasing a property! I did have the mis-fortune of living in a block of flats for a short while and I certainly witnesses examples of the type of tennant that do cause trouble! and appreciate that as you say Tigger there 2 sides of the coin to most situations!