Backing out of new agents fees?

Backing out of new agents fees?

8:47 AM, 28th October 2016, About 8 years ago 6

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I have a property in Kent and have been having issues with my letting agent so I decided to change agent.terms of business

The new letting agent doesn’t seem better. It took them a month to send me their Terms of Business and has started to charge their fees before I could see their terms.

There are many points I do not agree so I don’t want to sign the contract. How come they can change their fees before I agree? Is it possible to back off and ask to be reimburse to at least 50% of their fees?

We are leaving aboard and really difficult to find information on the internet when you are a landlord – everything is meanly for tenant. I am thinking about managing my property directly so no grief to have to deal with an agent.

I will really appreciate any support or help.

Thanks

Marie-Laure


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Fed Up Landlord

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9:29 AM, 28th October 2016, About 8 years ago

If you have not signed their agreement then as long as you have not started accepting their services without stating your concerns then a contract is not in place. All letting agencies are obliged to clearly display all fees for both landlords and tenants in their offices, on websites and related literature. Many still do not and can be fined by Trading Standards. Perhaps you may like to use this in "negotiations" with the new agent if they prove difficult. If your area is covered by Letting Supermarket then with their 4% management fee this may be your best bet. Self Management is possible if you have the skill base necessary to cope with the increasing regulatory burden on agents and landlords.

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11:52 AM, 28th October 2016, About 8 years ago

LettingSupermarket (the 4% fees all in guys as advertised on this site) now operate in Kent - well, they do in Maidstone for sure at least and we've found them to be EXCELLENT

Jon Dahms

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12:01 PM, 28th October 2016, About 8 years ago

We are active in Kent (although mainly in East Kent) and would happily help you if your property was located from Canterbury Eastwards.

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18:26 PM, 28th October 2016, About 8 years ago

Sorry to hear about your negative experiences with agents. There are good ones out there (including mine, but I'm in the wrong part of the country for you).

However, if you're living abroad you cannot possibly manage the property yourself. As an absolute minimum you need someone able, willing, and local to the property.

eagle view

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21:21 PM, 28th October 2016, About 8 years ago

Hello Dear,

If the agency failed to provide you the services you have paid then you have right to request a refund but they may not refund unless you take them to court. Since your in abroad you may not have time to fight with them but You can manage your property by asking tenant pay direct to your account and geting good landlord home emergency cover that will deal everything agency would have arranged and ask friend to visit the property every 3 months then everything fine

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12:44 PM, 29th October 2016, About 8 years ago

I'm an agent who has been in business for 13 years and currently manages about 500 properties.

Most tenancies have gone well, but over the years my staff and I have dealt with tenants who can't pay the rent (perhaps because of a change of circumstances) and tenants who could pay the rent but choose not to. We've dealt with fires, floods, a chimney collapse. We've dealt with cannabis factories and brothels. We once did a management visit and found the tenant dead in his bed.

I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point. Good luck if you've followed Yasin's advice and any of those things happen

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