Landlord has changed Letting agency

[Yellow40]

Hi Looking for some help as for some reason this has my Anxiety through the roof, I have lived in the same private landlord in the same property for 7 years, They have now decided to go with a lettings agency who have contacted me today as i need to sign a new lease and complete an application form for a house i have been in for over 7 years and provide them with ID, Just something does not sit right with me, Maybe it is the norm and i am wrong but just looking for some assurance this is normal. Just feel that having to complete an application for a house i have lived in for 7 years a bit strange , Thank you.

[doobrey]

There are plenty of valid reasons why the landlord may have changed agent. I have done it myself. The outgoing agent could be closing down, putting their charges up. Or they may just have been judged not to be very good at their job.

The new agent is right (and obliged) to check that you have the right to rent. If this check was done at the start of your tenancy and documentation retained then in theory they should be able to get proof either from the old agent or your landlord. However, I'm guessing that proof has not been retained.

Asking you to fill in an application form seems a bit officious and perhaps not very appropriate, but again it is reasonable and necessary for them to get all the pertinent details somehow.

I wouldn't stress about it. Sounds as if they haven't communicated very well but I see nothing obviously sinister here.

[theartfullodger]

That the agent or indeed landlord changes does not mean you need to sign or otherwise agree to a new tenancy agreement. Nor any changes to the tenancy agreement. Nor any application form, nor supply ID. (PS You might ask agent first for proof of ID: That'll surprise them, but clearly they think it's fair to ask)

Point the "new" agent here & perhaps they'll explain why they think they need such a load of paperwork (probably so they can charge landlord lots of ££££ or printing a load of garbage)

Sadly to be a lettings agent in England needs no training, no qualifications, no criminal records check. Bonkers. Other countries do these things better.

Welcome to LLZ btw... Keep asking questions if uncertain. Best wishes,

Artful, landlord since 2000

[Yellow40]

Thank you so much for your reply, It seem odd to me, Appreciate your time.

[jpkeates]

Hi, again, welcome.

Just tell the agency that you do not wish to sign a new lease thank you very much, nor do you wish to complete an application form for your home.

My guess is that the application form is part of a rental guarantee insurance that the agent have offered the landlord. They're pretty much impossible to set up without a credit check etc.
And the agency probably want to use their own standard form.

It's possible that declining the offered "service" would cause the landlord or agent to want to evict you, but that would be a weird reaction.

Have you thought of contacting the landlord and pointing out that this is causing you anxiety.
He may not know what the agent is doing and the agent may think they're being helpful.

[doobrey]

as i need to sign a new lease

'Need to' because you want to, or because they are asking you to?

A new tenancy is different from an ID check and some data gathering (which seem fairly harmless and may be well-intentioned). A new tenancy is not necessary. Only sign a new agreement if you want one.

[Piffy]

Many private landlords are elderly, you have been in the property for 7 years. The chances are that the landlord may be wondering what the property is worth, they may have asked a letting agent what the rent would be if they managed the property.
They may have actually lost the original lease, certainly now that you are presumably a Periodic Tenant, they need to put the lease on a more formal setting. I would be inclined to find a solicitor who deals with ordinary house leases and get them to write saying you are quite happy with the lease you have (subject to the solicitors agreement that this is the right course of action) Good Luck

[doobrey]

Why would the OP need to engage a solicitor?