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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not pay rent until details confirmed

79 replies

Paymentconundrum · 30/12/2020 09:09

More of a wwyd really.

Rent a property which is managed by an estate agents - so no contact details for landlord.

They sent an email through on I think the 20th saying that they are changing their name (a merger I assume) and next months payment should be made to - new bank details. No letter sent to our address etc.

We sent an email back saying we would need them to confirm this over the phone with someone we have spoken to before. Tried calling them myself as well.

An email was sent back by the person I usually contact (but with the new email address) saying sorry I will call you but have been off sick. Now they’re closed for Christmas and rent is due on the 1st.

While I’m pretty sure it’s legit - I’m nervous of paying £2500 into a new bank account when all we’ve really had are emails and none of them really verified.

So come the 1st do I
Pay it into the original bank as usual
Pay it to the new bank
Wait for them to open and confirm it (which I guess will be the 4th).

OP posts:

Okki · 30/12/2020 10:28

Our landlord's name and address was on our contract. When we were landlords and abroad, so agency acted for us, our details were on the contract. We also didn't received the rent (less charges) till the end of the month, even though the tenants paid earlier in the month, so I doubt your landlords will be aware if it's a couple of days late.

sneakysnoopysniper · 30/12/2020 10:30

You are entitled by law to the contact details of your LL even if the letting is handled by an agent. I would verify the details of the account first even if it does mean being a few days late with the rent.

Original poster

Paymentconundrum · 30/12/2020 10:33

I’m pretty sure on our tenancy agreement that the landlord details are c/o the estate agent - but will check. It’s not as if a letter is going to help at this stage anyways.

I would love to speak to the landlord (who I have actually met) as there have been other things that I think they should be aware of (sending out wrong contractors over and over etc - which I’m sure they’re being charged for).

OP posts:

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 30/12/2020 10:33

In the circs I think you are perfectly justified in being very cautious - there are so many scamsters about and a responsible, professional letting agent should understand your caution.

Might add that I am a LL who ditched a letting agent because of sheer hopelessness. Too many Tims Nice But Dim seem to go into lettings, never mind the unscrupulous Not Nice types.
I’m not slagging them all off, far from it, but caution is certainly needed where your own, hard-earned cash is concerned.

Shmithecat2 · 30/12/2020 10:34

Your lease should have your landlords details on there, regardless of how the property is managed. Your contract is between you and the landlord, not the EA. Unless the EA own the property.

Trisolaris · 30/12/2020 10:37

If the landlord is paid via the agents it is unlikely they receive money on the exact same day every month anyway.
My agents transfer it to me minus their fee anywhere between the 1st and 6th dependant on weekends, bank holidays and how busy they are. I echo others in saying I would much prefer my tenants to be cautious as you are doing and would not consider paying on the first working day a late payment at all.

EagleFlight · 30/12/2020 10:40

Considering 1st is a bank holiday and then it’s the weekend, I doubt the landlord will be delayed in getting the payment anyway. Definitely wait.

BenoneBeauty · 30/12/2020 10:41

Agree with everyone else - it could so easily be a scam so I'd wait to double check.

Seasaltyhair · 30/12/2020 10:54

@C0NNIE

When companies change their email address there’s always a system to forward them to the new addresses. But that won’t help if they have been intercepted by fraudsters.

However most companies don’t change their bank account, they just change the name. You could try phoning the fraud team at your bank or even at the estate agents bank.

This.

To change a new business bank account is a massive faff and time consuming. I would have expected communications to prepare you for this months ago so it went smoothly.

It does sound dodgy and even if it’s not it’s very unprofessional. Id actually ring the bank to make sure the bank account is legit.

lyralalala · 30/12/2020 11:10

This is why I ditched letting agents. They actually cost me my first ever tenant. I only found out how shit they were when I bumped into her after she left.

nosswith · 30/12/2020 11:14

I'd wait, but tell them why.

SomethingWycked · 30/12/2020 11:15

@Paymentconundrum

I can’t really see the point of the £1 transfer - I still couldn’t confirm it until Monday - by which time I can just call them and transfer the lot.

The agent would be able to straight away confirm that 1) they have given you the correct account details 2) you have inputted the correct account details 3) It shows that you intended to pay.

Maves · 30/12/2020 11:32

Deffo wait, my family member has he's own business...a few months ago a customer received an email asking for payment to be paid into new account the email was somehow sent from family members account, it was fake so yeah there is a scam like that if your worried just keep trying to contact the estate agent do they have a social media page or anything? Could be legit but the off sick but seems a bit suss too.

caringcarer · 30/12/2020 11:51

I am LL. Pay money into old account as if legit it will be forwarded by bank into new bank account. Do not risk being scammed by paying into new account. You should also be issued new lease stating new bank details. Do not pay into new account without it. Send back email stating what you have done and why.

PleasantVille · 30/12/2020 12:10

To change a new business bank account is a massive faff and time consuming. I would have expected communications to prepare you for this months ago so it went smoothly

Isn't it more likely that the EA has been bought by another business and wasn't able to tell their customers before now due to legal issues. If they were simply changing their name there wouldn't be a need for a new bank account.

I"m sure pretty much all of us have a story about rubbish EAs, that aspect is totally believable

Heisenjurg · 30/12/2020 12:26

Your rent won't be going out on the 1st anyway... It's called a "bank" holiday for a reason :-)

Wait and confirm but by calling them - not them calling you.

LittleBearPad · 30/12/2020 12:30

The 1st is a bank holiday anyway - pay on Monday. It’ll take seconds once you’ve confirmed.

LeSquigh · 30/12/2020 12:48

I have also had this exact scenario during this tenancy. It was legit but I held off until it was confirmed by the branch.

sbhydrogen · 30/12/2020 12:50

Absolutely wait it out! It's a couple of days, and there's a million scams around at the moment. Phone them at 9am on the 4th.

MissEliza · 30/12/2020 13:44

@DartmoorDoughnut

I would want a new contract with the new management company details before I handed over that much money!

^this

MrsPnut · 30/12/2020 13:55

I’d pay the old account or wait until you speak to them to confirm the new details.

It’s what we would do at work in our AP department. If the agent isn’t happy then point out that the delay was caused by them.

Nocaloriesinchocolate · 30/12/2020 14:14

If you pay into the old account, it will prove you weren't simply trying to avoid paying the rent, thus hopefully maintaining your good (I'm assuming!) record with payment of rent, which could be useful down the line if problems occur

Skysblue · 30/12/2020 22:18

Wait. Late rent doesn’t matter at all if it’s a one off, there’s basically nothing they can do and definitely best to be sure.

RightYesButNo · 31/12/2020 11:01

@Paymentconundrum

I’m pretty sure on our tenancy agreement that the landlord details are c/o the estate agent - but will check. It’s not as if a letter is going to help at this stage anyways.

I think the “wait until the 4th” situation has been resolved, so I wanted to respond to this. As your LL, I would absolutely want to know about the shoddy EAs sending over the wrong contractors and such (or pulling this new branding at Christmas thing, if indeed it’s not a scam), probably ruining your peaceful enjoyment whilst driving up a landlord’s bills, so a two-for-one shiteshow.

You said you don’t have the LL’s information, and it does seem in the (shoddy) EA’s favor to keep a buffer between you, but as someone said, check your lease, which should contain the maximum amount of information about your landlord, and also consider using Google and social media to find them, unless their name is John or Jane Smith and you’re in London. And even then, if you’ve met them, you could check for John/Jane Smiths in London on Facebook and LinkedIn and maybe find them easily? Or hell, completely failing that, even look up who owns it on public deeds/land registry, and see if the name matches who you met.

Any momentary embarrassment you feel at approaching them will, I think, be quickly overcome by how grateful they are that you’re saving them from incompetent management. This is especially true since, like others, I believe a lot of people will make the same choice as you and not pay rent until they can contact someone, and if your LL owns more than one property or relies on that money for pension, they REALLY hate the EAs right about now and want it sorted even more than you do.

Comfortzone · 31/12/2020 11:17

Ring your bank and talk it through with them if only to alert them to a potential scam

They can also make enquiries with the agent too

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