Letting Agent Problem

[JagLover]

We have recently had an inspection and have now received the following..

Letting Agent said:

It appears that since taking occupation a digital TV installation has been installed without any form of written consent being sort from the Landlord or through us. It is unfortunate that the installation has been installed on the main side wall which the Landlord has recently had a new damp course installed and this installation may now have invalidated its warranty due to the penetration of the two wiring points.

We wish to advise you that prior to vacating the property, further investigation will be made as to the damage this installation may have caused and any reinstatement works maybe recovered through the dilapidation deposit we hold against your tenancy.

Now we did ask for permission from the letting agent before having Virgin TV & broadband installed, but only got their verbal ok.

A previous inspection made no mention of this problem and they also mention in the letter that the "The Landlord has requested you pay particular attention to the side drive" when weeding. So I believe the TV installation is a complaint the Landlord has raised with the letting agent.

Any thoughts on where we stand?

[Plotloss]

Write back stating the date you asked permission and the fact that you recieved permission verbally and that you are not under any circumstance the sort of tenant that would have proceeded without it.

They're trying it on.

[davemac250]

Letting agent trying to justify fees.

[paoloh]

Plotloss said:

Write back stating the date you asked permission and the fact that you recieved permission verbally and that you are not under any circumstance the sort of tenant that would have proceeded without it.

They're trying it on.

+1. Also useful if you can remember the name of the numpty you spoke to.

[pikey]

Flip it on it's head - say it was already there and you didn't put it in.

When we let out our flat, we had a call from the letting agent asking if the tenants could put Sky in. We said yes, they did it. Nothing was confirmed in writing.

[Mark Benson]

davemac250 said:

Letting agent trying to justify fees.

Letting agent backpedalling after giving the OK for something the landlord has now spotted.

Shysters.

[sjwb]

'It appears that since taking occupation a digital TV installation has been installed without any form of written consent being sort from the Landlord'
Pity they cannot spell!!!!!!!!!!!

SOUGHT

Edited by sjwb on Thursday 13th November 12:13

[Bec]

Presumably you have the date when the digital TV was installed, and from your OP I get the impression that there has already been an inspection since then, so why was this not brought up then?? Sounds like somebody is trying it on

[JagLover]

paoloh said:

Plotloss said:

Write back stating the date you asked permission and the fact that you recieved permission verbally and that you are not under any circumstance the sort of tenant that would have proceeded without it.

They're trying it on.

+1. Also useful if you can remember the name of the numpty you spoke to.

Will do and I do remember who I spoke too.

I note also they were very careful to say no WRITTEN permission had been sought. I have never received written permission for any work on a rented flat, but have always just asked for a verbal ok.

[BMWBen]

well quite - who says permission has to be written? (unless it's explicit in your contract of course...)

[superlightr]

BMWBen said:

well quite - who says permission has to be written? (unless it's explicit in your contract of course...)

which it will. so that no misunderstanding occur at a latter date and its clear cut.

[JagLover]

Bec said:

Presumably you have the date when the digital TV was installed, and from your OP I get the impression that there has already been an inspection since then,

There has indeed

[Mc Lovin]

you could have some real problems with this mate, i'd get a summary of events written down now whilst its fresh in your head.

We had something similar happen and it was a nightmare to sort, we still had to pay out to some degree and we only had verbal permission as well.

When is your contract up?

[paoloh]

Mc Lovin said:

you could have some real problems with this mate, i'd get a summary of events written down now whilst its fresh in your head.

We had something similar happen and it was a nightmare to sort, we still had to pay out to some degree and we only had verbal permission as well.

When is your contract up?

You are a unique case though!!!

[911motorsport]

I think DPC companies simply inject silicon into old holes to reinstate DPC integrity. £10?

[Mc Lovin]

paoloh said:

Mc Lovin said:

you could have some real problems with this mate, i'd get a summary of events written down now whilst its fresh in your head.

We had something similar happen and it was a nightmare to sort, we still had to pay out to some degree and we only had verbal permission as well.

When is your contract up?

You are a unique case though!!!

Barsteward

[jesta1865]

JagLover said:

We have recently had an inspection and have now received the following..

Letting Agent said:

It is unfortunate that the installation has been installed on the main side wall which the Landlord has recently had a new damp course installed and this installation may now have invalidated its warranty due to the penetration of the two wiring points.

Any thoughts on where we stand?

hi, have they had anything put in, i suspect that the new damp course may be chemical and if so i fail to see how wiring points could invalidate it?

perhaps you should also write to the landlord directly (or at least copy him in so he gets the info) and tell him you were told on the following date that you could have it done.

being paranoid, i suspect that any letter sent just to the agents would never be seen by the landlord, especially if e has picked up on something they should not have ok'd.

[EngJock]

Having had to deal with landlords/letting agents for a couple of years now, I would ALWAYS recommend that you get written permission for anything like this.

Had the same problem with possibly the worst letting agents in London, not naming any names but they are the same name as the organ which pumps blood around your body. They said we didn't have written permission for the bracket I installed for my TV. I showed the person saying this to me a print out of the email they had sent me to which they replied, "well, you could have faked that." Honestly, anything they can do to wriggle out of it, they will do it. s.

[minimax]

davemac250 said:

Letting agent trying to justify fees.

how? looks to me the landlord has noticed something different and the agent is being leant on to do "something" about it. I can't imagine the agent being able to charge any extra for having a go at the exiting tenant..

my view is that the agent are being given a kicking by the landlord for not specifically advising where the cables may not be inserted (so as to avoid puncturing the damp-proofing) and are kicking themselves they did not a) advise the OP correctly and b) keep it all in writing..

..to the OP, it looks to me you can say to the agent that they did not advise you of where or where not to install the gubbins, and since nothing is in writing would they please F-off


HTH

(Tom, with his letting agent hat on)

[minimax]

BMWBen said:

well quite - who says permission has to be written? (unless it's explicit in your contract of course...)

everything really ought to be written down, particularly so the agent or tenant or both do not try to wriggle out of anything they oughtn't to