to be pissed off with our EA?

[banana87]

We currently rent a property. When we moved in, Feb of this year, we were assured a long term let. The property we are in is over a funeral directors and we were told they were having problems letting it.

In August, with no warning, we were sent a letter from EA advising us that the landlord wanted us to vacate the property with 2 months notice. Fair enough, its in the contract. We were told there was a letter attached from the landlord, which was not actually attached. As we have a 22 month old, we were not happy at all about having to move again after 6 months, but realize its what comes with the territory. When I rang the EA to ask the reason, was told she knew the reason but did not feel it was "appropriate to tell me".

We have since found another place, which we are buying. The seller is in a hurry to get out so we asked the EA 2 weeks ago to contact the landlord and ask if we could vacate 2 weeks earlier than the notice allowed. They referred us to head office, whom we contacted. We are in the US on holiday and have sent numerous emails, all unanswered, and called EA. Each time we call we are placed on hold for an extended period of time, sometimes disconnected (remember I am roaming and paying LOTS to make these calls) and then am usually told that they don't know the answer, they don't know who is in charge of our property and "will just find out and call you back". And so the cycle continues. Meanwhile, seller is waiting impatiently for an answer as everything is ready to go.

I am considering going to the AEA about this once we are out of the property and complaining, as I seem to be getting through to no one at head office.

AIBU or should I expect this from an EA?

It's pretty bad that you can't get a response, but I think you need to assume that you as tenant will have to stick to the terms of the contract, just as the landlord does.

Normally it's two months notice from the landlord for you to vacate, and one month's notice from you as tenant. So to ask for 2 weeks earlier is presumably just a fortnight's notice, which I suspect the landlord won't be happy with. Of course, there's nothing to stop you moving out earlier - but the landlord will take the rent owing out of your deposit.

Yes, and our contract stipulates we have to give 2 months notice as well. If they say no, fine, but seeing as how they seem desperate to get us out (and are re-letting the property) and the fact that they know we have a LO and this makes moving twice in 6 months that much harder, they might give a little.

I wont fight if they say no, but this is about the inadequacy of the EA not the behaviour of the Landlord.

This is to be expected from EAs really. To be fair though if you can't afford to pay an extra two weeks rent then you probably can't afford to buy a house.

Estate agents seem to think the landlords are their only clients, rather than realising that tenants' rent and fees help to pay them. However, to get an EA to see it this way is not easy....

Surely you can vacate whenever you wish, just that the check out would be 2 weeks after you move.

As you are being given 2m notice, then you are renting pcm, so if you move earlier, you won't get a discount from that month's rent.

Seriously a good idea, move into your new place then spend a week settling in, and a week cleaning and preparing the flat for check out, to make sure that you get your deposit back..

Stop worrying about the EA, they are clearly hopeless, so devote your time and energy to make sure the flat is tip top!

Firstly, you are confusing Estate Agents with Letting Agents (they may work in the same office, and indeed one person may do two jobs, but they are different things.

Secondly, make up your own mind which date you want to move.
Either pay rent and mortgage for two weeks, or just put the move back two weeks.

Do you mean NAEA?...Or ARLA?