Aug 2023 i signed a tenancy agreement … it detailed rental charge and pet charge only.
I asked before signing who the wayer company was and if i could have my own utiltiy provider.
I was told i could have my own provider and water was BWessex.
6 months later from chasing agent as there had been no response to my messages they realise they had not written the utility charge into my agreement.
They harassed me to sign a new agreement which i declined as i had sibmitted a complaint and was waiting for a response.
I would receive emails everyother day at midnight for about 3-4 months.
I agreed to pay the 400 at 100 per month as the utility was not disclosed to me and would of been a factor to consider when taking the property on.
Utility charges are a flat fee per month and no readings have ever been obtained.
The agent will not tell me the tariff charges per unit.
July 2024 i recieved notification that the arrear was clear due to overpayment.
I have just recieved an email saying i still owe moneys!
As my contract renews next month yhe rent has gone up and re-refrencing checks have not been completed (by agent). They are requesting 50 to produce a new contract.
Its been a year of hell and harassment from the agent and i dont know what to do.
This sounds like a very dodgy agent. Firstly, its not possible to charge either a pet fee or a tenancy renewal fee. Those are prohibited payments. Their bombardment of you with emails amounted to harassment and you should have complained at the time. Im not sure why you agreed to pay the utility charges. They couldnt force you to do that.
I would suggest you make a formal written complaint to the agent with all these points and then escalate it to whichever redress scheme they belong to after the required interval. Details should be on their website. I would also not sign any new agreement. Your tenancy will simply become rolling periodic on the same terms as you have now. They cant prevent this or force you to renew. Any attempt to evict you with s21 will fail if theyve taken an illegal fee or failed the other requirements.
I made a complaint whilst the sutomated emails were gojng kn a d awaiting their response.
They sent me a letter threatening court whilst my complaints was ongoing.
They never replied back with a final written response so the POmbudsman coukd not review it.
They sent me a message saying i had over paid on arrears and then a week later said i still owe money.
I can only presume (even tho i have been informed) the £50 is for a new contract that they mean removing my daughter of the agreement as she has moved.
If the agent didn’t respond to your formal complaint, the ombudsman can get involved and try to force the issue. Don’t give up on this avenue. They have the power to fine the agent and get redress for you.