Landlord letting agency

[homeagain]

Don't think it's a huge deal, but emailed agent today to give a month's notice, only to be told that they don't manage the property anymore and I should contact landlord directly. Shouldn't we have been told about this?

Yes you probably should. Who have you been paying your rent to? Landlord or agency?

Depends.

Do you pay directly to the LL, and does the LLs address appear on your contract?

I also vote for: Depends.

Landlord, but it was agents who arranged deposit and inventory etc, so not sure of our standing there. Have to say I thought the agents were pretty useless - they never did the inspections they were meant to do etc, but think it's a bit odd nobody told us.

The main thing, legally, is that you must have the name and address of the person you are expected to pay rent to. If you don't, then you don't have to pay it (true fact).

In this case, your contract is entirely with your LL, not the agents - so they don't have to inform you of anything. Seems odd and a bit off that they didn't, though. Maybe they thought your LL would?

Shouldn't make any difference regarding your deposit. Do you know where it's held?

Quite often an agency will be engaged to find tenants and set up the let but then pass everything over to the landlords, and you'll pay rent direct to the owner of the property and deal with them directly once you are in. This is not unusual. Was this not made clear at the beginning of the tenancy?

What trills said. Often the agency are 'introducers'.
I'm not sure it affects you really so I wouldn't worry. Perhaps it would have been good manners for you to be informed but apart from that..meh?

Although if they were expected to do inspections, but didn't bother, that sounds like a management contract.

I suspect (if it wasn't just an introduction as the others have said) that the LL terminated the contract with the agents, and told them he'd tell you - but didn't.

No - phoned the agents in May and said we were looking to move, and they said I had to contact them to give notice. But actually in many ways I'd prefer to deal with landlord. Thanks for advice.