My property is wrecked!!

suffolkc · 28th January 2008, 13:33

I own a property that I let out through a letting agency and pay them 8% of the rent every month to manage the property for me. I have decided to sell the property and went in on saturday with an estate agents to conduct evalutions etc. When I entered the property is completly trashed!! There are doors hanging off the fitted oven is smashed, the walls have been drawn over and the carpet you cant even see because it is covered in everything possible!! The property is now worth £10,000 less in it's current state then what it is worth. I paid the agency to avoid anything like this happening and wondering where I can turn next. The agency have the tenents deposit which I have asked for but this wouldn't even cover the carpets!! What do I do???? Please help

barracad · 28th January 2008, 13:51

8% sounds quite a low rate to have paid them - was this fee supposed to include regular inspections, etc?

Ultimately it would be the tenants who are responsble for the damage and who you would need to pursue, but if you have a specific contract with the agents and they have neglected it then there may be some recourse - this would depend on the specific terms of the contract you have with the agent.

suffolkc · 28th January 2008, 14:12

Yes this included regular inspections. The rate we paid them has been reduced as we used them for 2 years. The tenents are DSS so im guessing they have no money to pay for the repairs. I'm just wondering what my next steps should be?

MrShed · 28th January 2008, 14:54

Agree with barracad basically. It is unlikely that you have much recourse against the agent, unless you can prove negligence - which will be very difficult.

Do you have forwarding details for the tenants?

suffolkc · 28th January 2008, 15:08

They are in the property until 6th March. But after that I dont know where they are going. I have been trying to contact the agent all morning but they wont put me through as previously they told me they know the tenant personally so im guessing they know exacty why im calling!

MrShed · 28th January 2008, 17:16

In that case you cannot claim anything anyway - the tenants may return the property to the original condition when they leave.

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