Incompetent management company?

Incompetent management company?

9:47 AM, 22nd July 2024, About 5 months ago 15

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Hi, I’m looking for some advice for what I can do about the property management company who have ‘managed’ my property into oblivion.

They haven’t conducted an inspection in over a year; have not chased tenants for unpaid rent and when the tenants finally did a runner, the house has been completely destroyed. They left so much household rubbish in the back garden that it cost me nearly a thousand pounds to have it removed; they absconded with rent arrears and when the management company finally got round to claiming from the tenancy deposit scheme, I ended up with £47, as the rest had gone on their ‘costs’.

I am now forced with having to gut the property that has light fittings hanging out, flooring that’s been ripped up, wallpaper hanging off the walls and carpets with dog faeces trodden into them, not to mention the ‘garden’ that is a meadow with grass taller than I am and try to sell it to recoup my costs.

For the privilege of this, the management company have been happily skimming off 12% in rent.

Surely, as a private landlord, I must have some redress against them?

Thank you,

Angry NE Landlord


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Gardiner

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18:36 PM, 22nd July 2024, About 5 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Lina Borzenkova at 22/07/2024 - 14:39
Thank you for this advice, Lina. It has made my options really clear. Much appreciated.

LordOf TheManor

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20:11 PM, 22nd July 2024, About 5 months ago

Sorry for how it's turned out......
Get ready for action and start lining up all your ducks for a mind clearing exercise first and foremost. Then steady your ship by doing the following:
1. Print out your contract with the agency and go through each clause one by one. Use a fluorescent pen to highlight services missed. Put this in a file ready to refer to as you follow the advice given on this site.
2. Print out the deposit evidence trail you were presumably given. Highlight as above. Then do a compare and contrast with the agency contract to see how they have 'justified' their claims from it. Make notes on the result.
3. Revisit the pre-tenancy information. Who holds this? If it's not you, go after it with a calm request to the agency to supply you with the information. Was there an application form? If so, get a copy of it, then check the details contained within. Does it claim 'no CCJs' according to the tenants?
4. Who referenced the prospective tenants before they moved in? Whether it was the agency themselves, or via an outside referencing company, either way - ask for a copy of the report that the agency relied on to let to these tenants. Insist on having a copy, no matter what. Scrutinise, make notes and file - you'll need this information down the track.
5. Start a tenant trace for their current whereabouts on the information you have obtained from the above reports. This might take months if their move is recent. Stay patient til they are located. If this address turns out to be temporary, make a note to retrace them again in 12 months time. Find them!! Then check the ownership of the property they occupy. Keep a printed copy of your notes.....
6. When you finally locate them, do a CCJ multiple check for £8 at Trust Online. If nothing comes up, check again in 12 months time. Keep your file up to date with your findings.
When it comes to presenting your case to those who can advise you from here (to wherever it ends up) you'll have the information at your fingertips to demonstrate the tenancy's initial failure point and consequently highlight any subsequent 'red flags' missed by those charging you to look out for those.
Keep your file in good reference order. Keep notes as you go on any industry advice given, including just the verbal ones. Follow up.... and make notes.
When you have established an audit trail of what went wrong and why it wasn't picked up sooner, the way forward should become clear.
If the Agency is in one of the Ombudsman Schemes, the first port of call should be them. Your evidence trail will prove to be very useful when it comes to making a claim. You'll have the information you require to back up your statements and to upload as evidence to TPO or the alternative one.
Please post again in the future with the outcome. Hope it's a good result for you - but know that it will take time to arrive at it's end point.
Wishing you all the best with it.
Lord

Blodwyn

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21:52 PM, 22nd July 2024, About 5 months ago

Reply to the comment left by LordOf TheManor at 22/07/2024 - 20:11Good advice. It reminds me of advice given by a boss over 50 years ago. So many cases are won and lost over disclosure of documents. Make sure your paper trail is sound and there are no embarrassing gaps.
Be aware of what you ought to see and ask for it if not disclosed. Be prepared to go to the court and ask for an order against the defaulting party. If they don't comply, courts may give a deadline after which their case will be struck out.
Make sure your papers are sound and in order!

Lisa008

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14:58 PM, 27th July 2024, About 5 months ago

I took an agent to court many years ago because they were keeping the rent and not paying me. I had my paper trial. I had my statements. I had my receipts. I submitted it to the court - nice and orderly. They were to file a defence. They didn’t. They jumped ship and both directors resigned from the company at companies house. They tried to close the company down. Initially I blocked it because I had the CCJ in place. But no one could find them to send the documents (the bailiffs) because it was a serviced office address and serviced phone calls. But the important thing - they no longer operate and can’t cause anymore harm to landlords and tenants. The tenant was being paid housing benefit! They think their rent is being paid and the agent was stealing it!!!

Disgrunteld Landlady

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7:13 AM, 29th July 2024, About 5 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Lisa008 at 27/07/2024 - 14:58
Horrible experience, just so many crooks who get away with it. How long did you prevent the company from being shut down ? as they would cause costs - AR and Annual accounts then court summons with fines imposed.

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