My current tenants leave end of May, they emailed me to say their friends want to take over the flat, that email went into my spam so I didn’t see it. My usual letting agents went ahead to start marketing the flat, when I now know the had previously met with my tenants and they told them about their friend wanting the flat and that they had told me. A day after me signing for them to market it they tell me they have found a tenant as per the above. I am very annoyed this feels like they are taking a large commission for doing nothing. Do you know where I stand? Thanks for any advice.
Update:
Thank you everyone for your advice. For people asking if I am renting out a palace, it’s a 2 year lease and if any of you know agents fees then you will know how much the charges are. Appreciate your time, case closed, am not disputing it just annoying to miss an email in spam.
I would say it is a bit crafty of the agents although realistically they have done nothing wrong. They still have to vet the tenant that was gifted to them. That’s what agents do. Forget about it and move on.
It doesn’t matter how they found the tenants does it? They have been pro active and found somebody quickly. Would you rather they’d taken a month and found someone else? You signed an agreement that the agents would find suitable tenants they have done so inc viewings, referencing etc. You paid for a service and got it, fast. (Anyway the prospective new tenants friends of old ones could easily have proven unsuitable.)
You and agents were gifted prospective new tenants and it worked out. Congrats.
If you’d wanted to find tenants privately and had done so without any involvement of the agents then they couldn’t have reasonably claimed the fee.
Sure it feels like £ wasted on agents when they find someone quickly/easily - same as if theyd found someone suitable from 1st viewing. It’s good luck for them and you. Do you also think it’s £ wasted when you pay for insurance but don’t make a claim?
If I felt aggrieved at all it would be with my mail provider for sending old tenants’ email to spam.
I’d try to negotiate a lower commission fee under the circumstances. If the went straight to the named friend of the tenant, then they can’t really claimed they’ve marketed it and incurred costs.
Under RRA there’s no such thing as a 2 year lease. Fixed terms aren’t legal from 1 may. Your new tenants can move in after may 1st and can give 2 months notice (ending at the end of a monthly payment period) at any time.
Therefore a % fee based on a 2 year lease is also misleading.
@David122 may have a view and you can consult citizens advice and/or a lawyer. May well be worth challenging the agents.
There may also be a cooling of period in your contract with the agents, worth checking.
