My BTL letting agent taking the pi$$ or not?

[d000hg]

Can the Mod who did that PM me - I owe you some +Rep

You should have seen what I thought about changing it to as an anti-censorship protest.

[Wodewick]

I'm browsing a silly internet site:censored by the moderati...

ContractorUK: Everything for the successful IT contractor

Can the Mod who did that PM me - I owe you some +Rep

[d000hg]

Short version, my ceiling fell in due to a water leak from the flat above. While the repairs were underway the tenant was offered a rebate on the normal monthly rate as compensation.

The letting agency see fit to charge their % on the full month of rent and not the reduced during the repair period.

In their e-mail they call it 'their projected fees'

I call it taking advantage. I'm this close >< to telling them where to go. Someone throw a preverbal splash of cold water over me and tell me I'm overreacting.

Common sense tells me that, annoying as it is, this is not the agent's problem They are still managing the property/tenants and therefore why would they pay out?

OTOH check your contract. It might be worded as X% of rental income but that might be to set the amount, not saying they literally take X% of money received.

Personally I think they are in the right on this one. Though I'd be equally peed off in your shoes.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Who cares if the problem was there before they purchased, if the water came from the flat above its down to them/their insurance company to cover the damage and costs

Why?

[Support Monkey]

Not reduced rate, rebate. Tenant paid normally agent returned a sum for each month the repair were underway (2 of them).

I've effectively reimbursed the tenant and the agent for force majeure.

But I agree with what BB is saying, it's a grey area and comes with the trade old houses etc.

I see what your saying, i suppose taking a small hit on the % but still keeping the tenant sweet is small price to pay and presumably repairs are not going to take to long and the agent is still providing the agent service if the tenant is still in residence

[scooterscot]

also who authorised the lower rate, surely it your decision to lower the rent not theirs at which point you could have discussed their %

Not reduced rate, rebate. Tenant paid normally agent returned a sum for each month the repair were underway (2 of them).

I've effectively reimbursed the tenant and the agent for force majeure.

But I agree with what BB is saying, it's a grey area and comes with the trade old houses etc.

[Support Monkey]

Can't the problem existed prior to their purchasing the flat.

Who cares if the problem was there before they purchased, if the water came from the flat above its down to them/their insurance company to cover the damage and costs

also who authorised the lower rate, surely it your decision to lower the rent not theirs at which point you could have discussed their %

[BlasterBates]

A grey area here, as they did get the tenants in. I would say yes let them, on balance. My feeling is other letting agencies would probably do the same. It isn't as if the aency is in anyway responsible for the mishap.

If a tenant doesn't pay or there is no tenant and they charge a fee that isn't acceptable.

It's highly unusual to have to do this, so it isn't like it's going to happen often. Grit your teeth, repair pronto and get the rent coming in.

[scooterscot]

Claim it back from whoever owns the flat above

Can't the problem existed prior to their purchasing the flat.

[scooterscot]

Does the contract say anything about this?

Nothing about force majeure. Which is exactly what this is about 'sorry we don't care if there's been an earthquake we still want our %'.

[Cliphead]

Claim it back from whoever owns the flat above

[BrilloPad]

Does the contract say anything about this?

[scooterscot]

Short version, my ceiling fell in due to a water leak from the flat above. While the repairs were underway the tenant was offered a rebate on the normal monthly rate as compensation.

The letting agency see fit to charge their % on the full month of rent and not the reduced during the repair period.

In their e-mail they call it 'their projected fees'

I call it taking advantage. I'm this close >< to telling them where to go. Someone throw a preverbal splash of cold water over me and tell me I'm overreacting.