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How To Make A Complaint Against A Letting And Estate Agent

Your options for complaining if you are not happy with the overall conduct of the letting agent you have used in order to find a private rented home. In order to launch your complaint, your first step should be to raise the issue with the letting agent yourself, directly. There are certain procedures for the letting agents and estate agents that you have to follow. You have to check the website of the agent or ask for their office details. They must at all times tell you about the complaints of the procedure if you request. What you need to do is set your case out clearly in writing and provide the details of times and dates wherever they are relevant.Letting And Estate Agent

You should try to send a written complaint if the letting agent does not appear to have the complaints procedure. The letting agent will investigate, ask questions or will request you to send copies of the documents and then go on inspecting your house.

You must always register your complaint with the letting agent first. Try to make a clear and precise report and explain exactly the problem. The best letting agents will try their best to resolve the problem in house. They will also have a set procedure in place that will be handled by the senior management.

Letting Your Landlord Know About The Letting Agency

If you do not want to follow a formal complaints process, you should try to contact your landlord rather than complain about the letting agent’s poor service. It might be try that the landlord might not be well aware of how the agent is looking after the things. The name of the landlord and their address should be on the tenancy agreement or it should be included in the correspondence or documents. You should ask the letting agent for the details if you are not aware of the address and name of the landlord. The letting agent must at all times tell you if you ask.

If your landlord is a company, the letting agent should tell you the addresses and names of the secretary and directors.

It is very common with certain agents that they do not fully respond in a prompt manner to your complaints or problems that you have with enjoying your tenancy at the property. If there is an actual problem, you have to first let your letting agent know. You can keep a log and details of all the communications. It is much better to have the formal complaints n writing and if you live close to the agency the letting agent can hand deliver the letter. You can even contact the head office of the franchise. You can find the number of on tenancy agreement. However if that is not true then you can deal with the head office address and contact their telephone number again.

There are different types of complaints that you can make to your letting agent. The property ombudsman will not consider all types of complaints and will only take your case on board if you have exhausted the estate agent’s internal complaints procedure.

The complaints that can be considered include the following:

A breach of the estate agent’s legal obligations to you
Poor service or incompetence
Failure to follow proper procedures
Maladministration
Unfair treatment
Discourtesy

Other important tips include:

First you must know your agent:

Managing Agent:
This person acts as the manager of communal facilities of a residential block, share of freehold or usually leasehold on behalf of the freeholder.

Letting Agents:
Arranges the renting property on behalf of the owner of the property usually chosen by and paid for by the owner of the property and markets it to its possible clients.

Estate Agents:
Sell property that is usually chosen by or paid for by marketing it to the potential buyers or sellers of the property.

You can also try to complain directly to the agent. As always, you should try to speak to the agent first directly by raising any concerns as you might have them with them in the first instance. You should always try to give the agent a chance to put the things right before they escalate your complaint. Moreover, if you are happy with the way the agent is dealing with your complaint, you should try to make a formal complaint and try to go through the internal complaints of the procedure.

You must also ensure that the letting agent belongs to a recognized professional body. The first thing you have to do is to check before using a letting agent is whether they belong to any professional organization such as the Association of Residential Letting Agents, Property Ombudsman and so on.

The current approved redress schemes are:

It is important to note that anyone can set themselves up as a letting agent. Even people who have been banned from practicing as an estate agent. A person or qualified letting agent who is part of the professional body will have to keep up with your minimum standards of membership and will also require the members to keep up to date with the best practices. A lot of rogue agents might display the logos of these organization on the website and they might also claim to be the members of a specific organization even when they aren’t.

You must also try to use a letting agent who has access to the redress scheme or has signed up for it. The scheme gives a clear route for landlords and tenants to pursue complaints with a 3rd party if they are not receiving the service which they are expecting from the letting agent.

These are the things that you must note before complaining to a letting agent. Moreover, to choose a letting agent, you must make sure that these people have written testimonials about the services which you are using. Testimonials are a guaranteed way of finding out about the letting agent.

By Admin Property • Property Management Company 0 Comments

Benefits of Hiring a Property Management Company

One of the biggest and most valuable investments people make over the course of their lives is in residential or commercial real estate. Often, it takes life savings from years of hard work to get the property you really want. While managing a property may not seem like a big deal at all first, once you get into the game, the paperwork and other daily tasks can really catch up. This is where property management companies come in.estate-agents-uk

In addition to helping with managing day to day affairs for your property, these companies can also help add value to your investment. From single family homes to large office buildings and apartment blocks, property management companies can help manage all kinds of real estate operations. It is no wonder then that most real estate investors recommend using a good management company, and consider it one of the essentials in the property business.

When Should You Hire a Property Management Company?

Relying on a property management company can transform the way you see real estate, and be a real game changer for your future. If you fall in one of the following categories, you should seriously consider hiring a property management company:

  • You have multiple properties and rental units.
  • You live far away from your rental property.
  • You have limited time, or you simply do not want to be involved in hands-on management.
  • You want to focus on growing your business without having to deal with endless paperwork.
  • Your property is part of an affordable housing program and you need help to deal with loans, credits, and returns.


How do I Choose the Property Management Company?

Before you jump right in, it is important that you know the risks associated with handing over your property to a real estate management company. While it is true that most companies work to help increase the overall value of your property, there are a lot of inexperienced operators out there who may do the exact opposite. Therefore, it is very important to choose wisely when it comes to property management companies. We have put together a list of some essential items you should check before entering any contracts:

  • Get recommendations from colleagues and local apartment associations. People will recommend companies that know how to do their jobs correctly and make properties better places to live in. Moreover, you can be comfortable knowing that the recommended management company has local experience and is known well throughout the area.
  • Visit websites of the Property Ombudsman (TPO), the Ombudsman Service and the Property Redress Scheme (PRS) to search for approved professionals in your area. All three organizations maintain updated databases of real estate management organizations operating throughout the United Kingdom.
  • Check how many properties and units the organization you are considering manages. Additionally, be aware of a management company that has their own properties; they are more likely to focus on them first, and your property may get left out.
  • You should also check how often managers will be personally visiting the sites in order to inspect them periodically. It should also be decided on who will manage maintenance issues and if there will be any extra charges for this service.
  • Determine the charges beforehand. Most managers charge between 5 and 10 percent of the rent generated from your property. However, some companies determine this amount on the maximum possible rent, and expect to be paid whether the property is occupied or vacant.

At the end of the day, make sure to read the fine print before signing up with a real estate management company.

What are the Benefits of Hiring a Property Management Company?


A good management company is worth every penny you spend. Here are some ways they can help make your life easier:

Dealing with Tenants and Handling Maintenance


From tedious tasks like screening applications to planning out payments and completing tons of paperwork, management companies have the manpower to get the job done quickly. Most companies use a thorough vetting process to find tenants that pay on time, rent for long periods, and have a clean record. You will also be protected from rental scams and lawsuits resulting from misuse of property. 
Good maintenance is necessary to keep tenants happy and a professional management firm has access to contractors who perform routine maintenance work and all kinds of repairs. Having in-house maintenance staff increases the value of your property, and results in considerable savings as well.

Legal Issues


One of the biggest advantages of using a property management company is the protection it offers from all types of legal issues. From angry tenants to accident victims, property management companies stay on top of it all. With detailed knowledge about state and local laws for commercial properties, these companies can cover most situations. This includes safety of the property and living conditions. Additional duties range from handling security deposits and lease agreements to conducting inspections and handling the eviction process.

Get Your Property Ready for the Market

Experienced property management firms will complete multiple tasks to help get your property on the market. This includes thoroughly inspecting the property, gas safety inspections, electrical inspections, EPC, making any cosmetic changes required, and suggesting other improvements that increase the residual value and promise to boost revenue.

Furthermore, these organizations also help determine an appropriate rental rate based on the location, average income in the area, age of tenants, and other factors affecting the local market. With access to all this information and more, real estate management companies are much more informed in this entire process and can make better decisions.

One important element of getting your property filled up is marketing; and most management companies have dedicated marketing departments to help achieve targeted occupancy in a short amount of time. They can also get cheaper deals due to volume discounts and market your property online.

Value of Investment

A good property management company will seek to take every possible step to increase the value of your investment. By putting into place strict procedures to comply with local regulations, carry out periodic maintenance, and supervise the general appearance and daily operations of your property, these companies will have a positive financial impact in the long run.

Personal Benefits
By handing over management functions to professionals, you can relax and enjoy life as you have always wanted. Less stress from not having to deal with tenants and plenty of time and freedom to do what you want will greatly improve your lifestyle and health.