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Rot in Hell Evil Landlord Scum

16:36 / 12.12.03

*deep breath* Ok I am calm, calm as ICE.
The situation is this, I have been renting from a letting agency in Stratford for about a year now. After a whole year of shoddy service and failure to do repairs when asked we got a call from the owner of the house saying 'Have you paid rent in the last four months'?

We were a bit suprised as we were paid up to date, some of us had paid late on occasion but at the time we didn't owe any money. Apparently the owner of the house hadn't been paid in four months and was sick of this so would we like to sign a contract with him when our contract with the Letting Agency was up in a few weeks? We say yes because we'd like to keep living there.

After much faffing around with both parties claiming the other one owes us our bond back that's finally sorted. However here's where it's turns farcical, because I remember at the last minute to cancel my direct debit and the bank doesn't manage it in time, the agency now have a months rent and are saying we're keeping it because the landlord owes us money, get the money from the landlord.

Ok does anyone know what the hell my rights are in this case and can someone point towards some advice on the web? Am I going to have to go to the small claims court, or get myself a lawyer. Anyone know how to fight and win against the evil that is Letting Agencies?

16:39 / 12.12.03

Hmmm do the moderators want me to remove the name of the company in question? Could be construed as libelous I've just thought on somewhat calmer reflection...

17:16 / 12.12.03

Fuck- I've had bad experiences with Letting Agencies but have never heard of manoeuvres like that being pulled...not sure- will report back once I've asked someone I know

17:21 / 12.12.03

"we're keeping it because the landlord owes us money, get the money from the landlord" is clearly bollocks. You're not the landlord. They have your money and they're not giving it back. Whether you have a contract with the landlord or not is entirely irrelevant.

Basically, they're stealing from you, and you should tell them that and threaten legal action. They don't seem to me to have any sort of case at all.

17:49 / 12.12.03

My sympathies, man. I've dealt with letting agencies in the East End too. OK, I don't have much serious advice to give but everyone says that the small claims court is good.

You can even do the thing online. I had a quick read and it sounds pretty straightforward. They advise talking to the people before issuing a claim - which sounds like good advice - and keeping a copy of all correspondence. Best of luck with it.

pointless and uncalled for

15:13 / 13.12.03

What they have done is in no short detail entirely illegal. Transferance of debt is only legal on the signed authority of all parties involved. Often the legalities are waived in the interests of convenience but that is at the discretion of the involved parties.
If you want someone to go and speak legalese to them I would be happy to help you out. Plus I could easily make use of my "Public Guardianship Office" badge to push things.

I can't promise bloody vengance but I can offer a higher chance of your money being returned swiftly.

16:14 / 13.12.03

Cheers for the advice people, I'm holding off on court action or anything until I've been into talk with them with my Landlord on Tuesday. But I'm actually looking forward talking to them now I've got ammunition.

I definately intend to point out to them that what they've done is illegal and thanks for that phrase 'without the written consent of the parties involved'. I'm actually getting quite up for getting them in court and I'm going to take a wander down to the court on Monday to see if I can get details of any civil court actions they've already got against them, as apparently they're notorious for this sort of thing. Any court cases against them are public record, yes? Don't know if you're allowed to bring that sort of thing up in the small claims court, their track record on debts paid and the like?

And thanks Seldom I'll be in touch about some advice for when I go confront them on Tuesday.

18:56 / 13.12.03

I'm sadly not surprised - you might be interested to know that Shelter are running a campaign against this sort of thing. Though I don't think they could offer you advice but you never know. They might just refer you to the Citizens Advice - if they do, go early because they're heavily oversubscribed. Don't local authorities offer some form of advice as well? Not much help I'm afraid but a few angles. Good luck - bastards.