http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/list/8 EN Mon, 16 Jan 2006 13:32:19 +0000 Mon, 16 Jan 2006 13:32:19 +0000 Property Phorum 5.1.6 600 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45061#msg-45061 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Andy Morgan) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45061#msg-45061 Mon, 16 Jan 2006 13:32:19 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45042#msg-45042 forum@london-se1.co.uk (JonR)
we found the property through the agency, and after one year, we were shocked to hear from them that the rent was going to go up by about £100 a month. We knew the owner, so we talked to her, and she said that she hadn't authorised that, and didn't know about it, so she told Kinleighs that we were moving out, we told Kinleighs that we were moving out, and then we signed a new contract for the same amount of rent as previously, with our landlord. Almost certainly against her contract with Kinleighs, but that's up to her, and not us if it gets noticed. Neither of us could see what they'd actually done for the past 12 months, apart from taking us round the flat in the first place, so we agreed to cut them out of the equation.

of course that was almost three years ago, so not a problem anymore.]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45042#msg-45042 Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:19:11 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45036#msg-45036 forum@london-se1.co.uk (OrionJon)
The agencies are the middle-man and as such they themselves take the risk of being cut out; it's the nature of their business. ]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45036#msg-45036 Fri, 13 Jan 2006 15:02:35 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45023#msg-45023 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Ivanhoe) ]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45023#msg-45023 Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:14:30 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45019#msg-45019 forum@london-se1.co.uk (The Sarah)
With letting, landlords almost always sign up to paying the agent a commission for finding the tennant for the whole life of the tenancy - not just the year of the first contract. The longer the tenant stays the more the agent makes, but then the more the landlord makes as well. Though with smaller agencies you can usually negotiate reduced percentages for second and subsequent years. (Probably not with Kinleigh, and never with Foxtons.)

So by going out an buying a contract from WHSmiths and not informing the agent that the tenant is still there - or more probably telling the agent that the tenant has moved out - the landlord is quite probably breaking their agreement, which they chose to sign, with the agent.

I'm not up for agents in particular, but don't understand why breaking contractural agreements is seen as clever.

Incidently many agencies also get you to agree that if the tenant subsequently buys the property, you pay a sales commission. It's a tough lettings market at the moment, at least for smaller flats. If an agent finds a good tenant willing to pay a good price, you sign. ]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45019#msg-45019 Fri, 13 Jan 2006 11:56:00 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45018#msg-45018 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Ivanhoe)
Absolutely.

But there is a "third way", which is the one Jon describes above. If both parties think they are getting a decent service from the agents, then no one will try to cut them out. It's only when the agents are so greedy and/or offer so little in return, that people start to think about cutting them out of the equation.

And I doubt it's anything like fraud, as you claim. You're not tied to an agent for ever. (Which is why, I suspect, that agents make all their money out of you - speaking as a tenant - up front, and then try their best to have nothing to do with you for a year, until the contract's up for renewal and they then try to charge you a hundred odd quid to change nothing on the contract apart from the date).

I suspect that the only people losing out here (apart from the agents, and frankly, who cares about them) are the landlords who remain tied to agents, as they bear more than their "fair" share of the agents' overheads due to more value-conscious landlords taking action to cut out the middle man.]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45018#msg-45018 Fri, 13 Jan 2006 11:43:32 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45017#msg-45017 forum@london-se1.co.uk (The Sarah)
The same applies to tenants in that if you work hard, look at a lot of small ads etc you will probably pay less as the landlord can afford to charge less. But again people use agents because they are there and you can see properties on their web-site or shop window.

Your choice. ]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45017#msg-45017 Fri, 13 Jan 2006 10:27:27 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45011#msg-45011 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Ivanhoe) > particularly clever to save money by failing to
> honour an agreement with an agent.

Sarah, you don't sound grumpy, you just sound like a landlord.

Tenants know what they are doing if they agree to cut out the agent, and they are doing it willingly (generally because in their eyes they are getting very little service from the agent and paying a lot of fees for the privilege).

I don't think many people will sympathise if there's a fall in estate agent profits.

]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45011#msg-45011 Fri, 13 Jan 2006 08:46:31 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45003#msg-45003 forum@london-se1.co.uk (The Sarah)
As a landlord one trick is to negotiate agents fees for the second and third years should the tenant stay in the property. Most will agree to a reduced % for second and further years.

I obviously hate paying agents fees and much prefer to find tenants directly. But I recognise that when using agents I am benefitting from the shop window, staffing, websites and other marketing. For the most part they pay for themselves as I can ask for a higher rent, and they make sure I get it. I have had issues, particularly with the dreaded Foxtons, but at the end of the day they find tenants and this is a service I have to pay for.

So I sound grumpy, but I don't think it is particularly clever to save money by failing to honour an agreement with an agent. ]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45003#msg-45003 Thu, 12 Jan 2006 14:55:03 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45000#msg-45000 forum@london-se1.co.uk (JonR) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/45000#msg-45000 Thu, 12 Jan 2006 14:07:35 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/44969#msg-44969 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Zappomatic) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/44969#msg-44969 Wed, 11 Jan 2006 19:05:55 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/44965#msg-44965 forum@london-se1.co.uk (kirsty)
We had a terrible time with Ludlow Thompson, but generally people just have to choose the flat they like and are stuck with the letting agent it comes with!
]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/44965#msg-44965 Wed, 11 Jan 2006 17:00:23 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/44960#msg-44960 forum@london-se1.co.uk (loafer) Affiliation to the industry organisation "ARLA" is voluntary.

http://www.arla.co.uk/default.asp

Not a long list for SE1, it must be said.

Regards,

Loafer]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/44960#msg-44960 Wed, 11 Jan 2006 16:25:18 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/44959#msg-44959 forum@london-se1.co.uk (carmenes82)
Chris.
]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/44959#msg-44959 Wed, 11 Jan 2006 16:07:26 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/44955#msg-44955 forum@london-se1.co.uk (Osamede)
But in all honesty I would echo what Jackie Rokotnitz said earlier in the thread: "Decent estate agent is an oxymoron." That was exactly my experience when I moved here last year....]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/44955#msg-44955 Wed, 11 Jan 2006 15:47:20 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/44941#msg-44941 forum@london-se1.co.uk (OrionJon) Please stay clear of Black-Katz if you are planning to move or rent a flat in London! Even senior management is not replying!

Anyone else had issues like these? Is there a body to which one can complain to? Thanks. Great blog!!!
Jon]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/44941#msg-44941 Wed, 11 Jan 2006 10:52:27 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/33479#msg-33479 forum@london-se1.co.uk (wizbit) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/33479#msg-33479 Thu, 17 Mar 2005 16:47:50 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/33252#msg-33252 forum@london-se1.co.uk (David M Anderson)
By the way - the lettings agenst on Tooley street near to the Wetherspoons pub - changed its name a while ago, not long after there was lots of criticism of them on this site (and I'm not saying they changed because of that) - was this a total change or just a cosmetic one?]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/33252#msg-33252 Sun, 13 Mar 2005 09:12:18 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/33047#msg-33047 forum@london-se1.co.uk (James Hatts) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/33047#msg-33047 Thu, 10 Mar 2005 09:04:35 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/33045#msg-33045 forum@london-se1.co.uk (jeff180)
Their website is http://www.kalmars.com, and there is a lettings list on their website! Their phone number is 0207 940 7980.]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/33045#msg-33045 Thu, 10 Mar 2005 08:54:08 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/32784#msg-32784 forum@london-se1.co.uk (biancako) no estate agent recommendation but i have actually a flat to rent in SE1 just off Grange Road. two beds/two baths, separate kitchen and a large south facing terrace.
Give me a call if you're interested. 07718778655]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/32784#msg-32784 Mon, 07 Mar 2005 23:10:34 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/32783#msg-32783 forum@london-se1.co.uk (The Lady Miss Jo Jo)
And here's another one from last year that might have more info: http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/24579]]> Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/32783#msg-32783 Mon, 07 Mar 2005 22:44:10 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/32782#msg-32782 forum@london-se1.co.uk (objective) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/32782#msg-32782 Mon, 07 Mar 2005 21:19:53 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/32778#msg-32778 forum@london-se1.co.uk (coogie) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/32778#msg-32778 Mon, 07 Mar 2005 20:25:54 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/32771#msg-32771 forum@london-se1.co.uk (jackie rokotnitz) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/32771#msg-32771 Mon, 07 Mar 2005 19:00:31 +0000 http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/32762#msg-32762 forum@london-se1.co.uk (objective) Property http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/8/32762/32762#msg-32762 Mon, 07 Mar 2005 17:18:38 +0000