Letting agent and deposit.

6 replies

Littlefaeries · 09/03/2023 18:01

We let our house through an agent.
The agent have been pretty lax and we paid for work which it turned out wasn’t done by their contractor leading to further damage.
We finally evicted our tenant and in lost rent and damages we’re probably £10k down.
The agent returned our deposit last week and has deducted letting fees.
Is this normal?

OP posts:

HolibobsinApril · 09/03/2023 18:16

I think they are separate issues.

Did your leave the property in a condition where there needed to be some deposit deductions?

Surely, you have a management agreement with the letting agent for their fees?

If you paid for work that wasn't done then that is a separate issue that needs to be investigated with them and rectified.

LIZS · 09/03/2023 18:22

Normally it would be deducted from rent. Is this the tenants' deposit coming to you as withheld?

Original poster

Littlefaeries · 09/03/2023 18:31

It’s the tenants deposit coming to us.
The agent has taken the usual fees that they would if it was rent.

OP posts:

LIZS · 09/03/2023 18:53

You need to check your contract as ti whether fees are payable regardless and how. Are they members of ARLA or similar?

Original poster

Littlefaeries · 09/03/2023 19:25

I'll check thanks.

OP posts:

mrsfennel · 09/03/2023 19:36

They shouldn't be taking money from the deposit , thats one lot of money that should be separate .

But in my experience letting agents will deduct for things like check out report and admin charges. If they organised work and it damaged the house they should be putting that right?

Flip