how to report a rogue letting agent

Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2019 9:14pm

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I was charged one month's rent towards the fee for finding a tenant who left just after one month of moving in due to the flooding situation in La Torre. I was never keen to have this tenant right from the start because he wanted me to remove almost all of my furniture from the flat. Before leaving the UK, the mediator had told me a lie that he got 3 prospective tenants lined up but when i came here, they brought the removal men and by promising me that my items will be safe in the letting agent's (woman) storage and i can keep them till the end of the contract. And quickly they removed my stuff and went off. I was told that it is all free. When i insist to see the place, she took me there. I signed the contract with the tenant (Spanish) for 11 months. The agent charged me 1 months's rent towards the fee which was supposed to be the deposit of the tenant and gave me 1 month's rent paid in advance by the tenant. Once I signed the contract she then said that i need to pay towards the removal and took 40 towards the removal and 25 towards the storage for that month. But when the tenant moved out just staying for little over a month due to the flood, he began demanding his deposit back. The agent initially promised to return a quarter of the fee she had taken from me. She deducted money for the translation of the documents, changing of the names on the bills and advance payment for the storage till December but now she is totally denying to give me any money at all. I am going to La Torre on the 14th. I have to pay a removal man to get the items from her storage and bring back to my flat and he is costing me hell. I asked her to refund the storage money she had charged me for the months of November and December but she is refusing. I had been through under so much that my heart is racing and I feel I will have a heart attack. I have to make another trip in just 2 months. Not only this agent had charged me so much, I have to spent on top and gained nothing out of it. Please could someone advice me what I should do and what my rights are? Thanks

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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 11:45am

rma44

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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 11:45am

No good asking on here, you'll get all the part time lawyers out. You really need a lawyer in Spain as this is obviously a complex situation, but I would have thought you have a proper written contract with the agent, and the agent will have a written contract for the tenant, without those it will be very difficult to make your claim. So many people just go along with things agents tell them and verbal agreements cannot be proved. Unfortunately this situation won't be solved in a hurry, but I hope you can find a good lawyer to take the strain.

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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 4:36pm

baljeet ahluwalia

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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 4:36pm

Thank you so much. Fortunately I do have a contract. I gained nothing out of this 1month rental apart from stress, anxiety and loss of plenty of money. I am going there tmrw to face the music. I would never recommend anyone to go and live in Spain! Thanks again..

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Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 4:52pm

rma44

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Joined: 2 Mar 2016

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 4:52pm

If you go to the agent before contacting a lawyer, ask them for an official complaint form. All legitimate businesses have to give them out when asked. It will show them that you mean business. The down side of these forms is the time it takes to get through the bureaucracy, I know from personal experience. Get to see a lawyer asap.

I've never rented out a property in Spain as I always considered the potential problems in doing so, I've heard so many stories over the years. Without going into too much personal detail, it would be good to update your progress, it might help other's. Good luck luck, keep positive and I'm sure it will work out eventually.