Townends letting agents

[MetropolitanAnthony]

Please can I invite some opinions on the issues below. As a landlord I am about to re-let my flat to a new tenant found by "Toy" Townends letting agents. I am having concerns about this letting agency who are new to me.

"Toy" Townends view is that they want to do all the reference checks on the tenant but they do not want to disclose the results of these checks to me as the landlord ( checks include previous landlord, current employer, current bank ). I think this is very odd and I am reluctant to allow the letting to go ahead unless I see sight of these checks. Who is right?

I specifically want to know the tenants bank details since , in the case of tenant default, I can potentially seek a garnishee/third party debt order. I am happy to give the tenant my bank details. "Toy" Townends are very reluctant to comply and they don't want to give me the tenant's bank details. Who is right?

I want to issue a 'no fault s21 notice' at the start of the tenancy with an expiry date matching the end of the tenancy. "Toy" Townends think this is very unusual and prejudicial. My view is that it prevents the agreement becoming a statutory periodic tenancy on expiry. Who is right?

[Paul Gibbs]

if you are paying for the credit checks you should be entitled to the results

[TrinityHill]

I used to be a private residential landlord now running my own letting agency based on quality service.

I can tell you from personal experience from my days as a private landlord that Townends weren't very good. An example of this was with-holding the first 6 months of rent that the Tenant had paid and claiming they hadn't received any of it. I also found their prices to be too high for the service they were providing.

Most people are probably happy enough to pay their high prices and deal with the at best average service they provide. What area is your property based in? My agency may be able to provide you with a more affordable solution and higher quality service.

[shaf]

Hi MetropolitanAnthony

I think your spot on, you should have a right to see ref details and request Sct21 as Townsend are your agents, acting on your behalf !. If they don't want to play ball, just explain you'll take your property & busniess elsewhere !

I think you have the right view here, as not all agents have the landlords best interests at heart and are just in it for a quick buck !

Regards

Shaf

[PaulF]

It is best practice for an agent to present all the preliminary enquiries to the landlord and to obtain his instructions for the let to proceed. Indeed it should be covered within their Terms of Business.

[MetropolitanAnthony]

Thank you for your guidance.

"Toy" Townends have relented now so someone must have had a word. Under Data Protection they still would not pass me the tenant's bank details but we got around this by the tenant and I agreeing to exchange these details to each other directly.