i hate estates agents!!!!

[anna]

Hi, I live in London and my story is about renting a property, with help from an estate agent. I thought that paying someone to do this, will be easier and everything will go nice and smooth. I was very wrong!!
I started looking for a property at the begging of February, I was supposed to move on 24 of march, after viewing just 3 properties we found this nice big house, it was everything that we wanted. We decided to give the deposit and to go through all the formalities so that the property will be ours for the next year. All nice and good. The estate agent,( employee, I think, of MADDISON estate agents in Hounslow)told us straight from the beginning that if I change my mind I will lose the agent fee(£200), but if the landlord does it I will receive the full amount back. We were supposed to rent the property from 15 of March. On 1 of March the estate agent e-mailed me that the landlord decided to sell the property. We couldn't move anymore, we were very disappointed, but we had to do something very quick. I gave him my bank details so that he can transfer my money back and I can move forward. It took me 5 min to make the transfer when I gave him the deposit, it took him 2 weeks and I still can't use the money. I was calling him daily (he switched off his phone at some point), e-mails and everything so I can have my money back. I was very confident that if this is his job and he is paid good money for it, he will give his best to have happy clients. He was unprofessional, in my opinion, in the way that he treated me and the whole situation. He didn’t give me enough time to find something else; he didn’t give me my money back so I can pay for the other property. I don’t even know where I stand now! I have extended my tenancy and I hope I will find something nice soon.
Today 22 March, I have the money but I think he mess up my account, with uncovered cecs(7 in 6 out, and £800 paid cash)
I hate estates agents, I am afraid to work with them again.

[Neil Tunnicliffe]

You cant live with them and you cant live without them. Even if there was an easy way people could sell their own houses, it would rely on advertising. Rightmove and sites like this cost approx £500 per month each, so it is very expensive

[glen_jai]

The trouble with Estate Agents is they are commission based. When they are making commission out of you, they will be responsive to all your needs.

But if you're trying to get money back from them, then it's totally a different story.
My sister had a similar problem where the Estate Agent refused to return her deposit when she finished her tenancy, claiming that she had damaged the property.

She had to take pictures of how spotless the property was left in, and took the Estate Agent to a small claims court before they gave her the deposit back.
Trouble, it is very easy for the Agents to say "We're going to keep your deposit", and a lot of trouble and stress to take them to court. So most people will just leave it.

Estate Agents can be extremely unpleasant if you're trying to get money out of them. But never let them get away with it.

[Janette Guenien]

Real estate agents are still there even if you don't want them, you still need them.

[michaelwatson83]

Why dont you just spend £60 and take them to a small claims court, because based on what you have said, they will definitely lose and you will win your money back.

[zaccolbert]

totally agree, estate agents take the proverbial michael! Always keeping deposits on the thinnest grounds and never around when you need them. i think renting privately is the way to go

[Luke Owen]

London renting is always a good option over London buying, simply because as a Londoner you're more likely to move out of London when you get fed up of the noise!

[grahamwoody]

Originally Posted by Luke Owen

London renting is always a good option over London buying, simply because as a Londoner you're more likely to move out of London when you get fed up of the noise!

and the smell and the prices and the congestion charge and the ... and the ...


G

[jodieB]

I have had an awful experience with a certain estate agents whilst renting a property in Manchester they were very unprofessional and lied and try to put the blame on me when things went wrong especially concerning the car parking space where my car got towed away on two occassions... unbelieveable.. however using the same brand of estate agent in Sheffield they couldnt of been more helpful and friendly...

[Dan S]

What an emotive thread title!