Letting Agent Is Trying To Rip Me Off
04 Apr 2009Ok, yesterday I wrote a blog post about how I encountered a rude, cock-face letting agent. Well, the saga continues…
Basically, the letting agent wanted £500 to find me tenants (EXTORTIONATE). Initially, I was like, “ok, cool, see what you can get me”. But using an agent was literally a backup plan, because I generally find tenants myself these days (Finding Tenants Without A Letting Agent). Paying for their services was literally PLAN Z.
When the agent came to view the property, before marketing it, he asked me a bunch of questions, like:
- Will you accept tenants with children?
- Will you allow pets?
- Will you allow DSS tenants?
- Will you accept smokers?
I said “no” to all those questions besides from allowing children. I have no problems with children as long as they’re potty trained, consequently don’t shit and piss all over the walls and carpets. I also mentioned that I only want working professionals, and I don’t want anyone too young. The agent noted this all down on a piece of paper, which was attached to a clipboard. So it was all documented.
Ok, so as I explained in yesterday’s blog post, the agent found me a tenant, and without my consent gave her false hope. They basically told her she can have the property, without even running the details by me. I told them that was unacceptable because only I can give them the green light. Now they’re all pissed off because they claim to have found me a perfect tenant, which I won’t commit to, and the poor woman is travelling 200miles to get a Guarantor (like that’s my fault), and she has impeccable references.
Well, I hope they’ve learned a lesson now. Before they gave the green light to the prospective tenant, they should have conversed with me. That’s their fault. But it doesn’t matter, because I already found a great tenant myself, so I didn’t need their services (but they didn’t know that).
Anyways, the agent rang me at 5:30pm last night, saying they’ll lower their rates, in attempt to push through the deal. They reduced to £325. That’s quite a big drop from £500. Times must be hard. Regardless, even though I had already found myself a tenant via Gumtree, I wanted to know what kind of tenant my £325 would have landed me with. I asked the following questions:
- Who is the tenant?
- How old is the tenant?
- What does the tenant do?
- Does the tenant have kids?
Do you know what the agent responded with? She’s a 25yr old single mother, that’s a part-time fitness instructor, and she receives social benefits.
WTF? How the fuck is that the perfect tenant? And what was the point of asking me those initial questions when viewing the property if you ignored pretty much everything I requested?
Why have you left it until now to tell me she’s on benefits?
The agent’s response was kind of smug, and was like:
Her references are great, and she’s a lovely girl. The DSS part is just a minor detail- I thought i’d surprise you with it.
I felt like saying,
You fuck her then.
Of course, the tenant might be perfectly legit, and might be great. However, she didn’t fit the description for what I was looking for at all. And the agent knew it. They genuinely have no right to be pissed off, because they didn’t even find me what I asked for!!!
Why the fuck would I pay £350 (or any money at all) for a tenant which I can get free off the council? I can go to my local social housing benefits department for FREE and ask them to send me a tenant. NO LANDLORD should need to pay for a tenant like that.
What a fucking joke. These guys are not only scumbags, but they’re SHIT at their jobs.
Anyways, later today I have to face them because I need to pick the keys and explain why I won’t be using their services. That should be fun. Odd thing is, I shouldn’t have to explain, because it’s apparent they didn’t do their job. Of course, they’ll probably sit there scratching their asses, wondering why the fuck I passed up on such a great deal. Dumbases.
This only highlighted the fact why I don’t use agents!!!! They should be used with caution, and as last resorts, in my opinion.
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Talk / 5 Comments left so far
I've had (insanely crap) customer services from 5 different companies recently (CeX, TNT, Apple, PlusNet and Royal Mail) in just 2 weeks. And that's just trying to use their basic services (for things they're supposedly good at!!!).
It's a recession, surely these companies need to realise that bad service can lead to a business going bust, and therefore leading to job losses!!!?? But they really don't understand that. No, really they don't.
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quick scenario:
I walk into letting agent.
(spikey gelled hair kid stands up)
I said "hello, I am looking to rent a 2 bedroom flat or house from the end of septemeber and my budget is £700 per month."
He's replies (picking up a leaflet)
"We've got a great one here that might be worth you looking at .. it is close to the city centre and in a purpose build block with shared gardens"
I say "ok sounds good - but it says there it's only available from the end of october.."
He says "yes , how does that sound?"
I honestly just walked out..
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I initially started this website because I wanted to document my every step from property idiot to property landlord,
in hope that people would find my site and help me along the way. I literally didn't have a clue about being a landlord
when I started this website.
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