Letting agency breaking contract early

Letting agency breaking contract early

11:19 AM, 13th October 2014, About 10 years ago 2

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Our tenant had signed a 12 month contract until April 2015. Letting agency breaking contract early

We rent out our house through an estate agents however due to my husband being a builder he maintains the property. Our tenant always let us know if something needed doing.

One of the bedrooms started showing damp so he sorted what we believed to be the problem and the tenant was happy to paint it.

That was last we heard until two weeks ago when the bathroom ceiling started leaking so again my husband went straight round only to be met with a crying hysterical tenant saying the neighbours were too loud and now this and then the kitchen flooded which was the washing machine hose.

My husband fixed everything and said he would be back to fix up the kitchen on Monday.

That Saturday she went to estate agents and told them the house was uninhabitable and had a crying fit in the office. They went round and said she could move out when she wanted.

I’m sure they have not given us enough time to fix the problem – a weekend (!?)

We had got in touch with a roofer who was going that week to assess the situation for us and give us a quote to fix it.

I make no profit from renting, it does not even cover mortgage and now I have to find the money to cover my mortgage as this was so unexpected and sudden. I was just wondering if the estate agents were in the right for what they did.

Many thanks in advance for any help.

Regards

Lisa


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Comments

Mark Smith Head of Chambers Cotswold Barristers

12:20 PM, 13th October 2014, About 10 years ago

This case depends on what the terms of your agreement with the estate agents. I would be surprised if it extended to allowing them to decide that a tenant could vacate early. If you would like to contact me via my profile with a copy of the agency agreement I will take a look.

Neil Woodhead

13:07 PM, 13th October 2014, About 10 years ago

Agent has no authority to Terminate a tenancy without LL consent. The worst scenario would be temporary accommodation whilst works completed. A common practice these days is for Tenants to claim property is "uninhabitable" so they go to the top of the Councils Housing list.

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