Student Rentals

[scottjay86]

Back in August of 2007 me and 4 other got a house though estate agents that were recommended to us by one of said friends. Mistake number 1

They had to get new special keys cut that would open front door, flat door and room door. We were promised these keys for 1st sept, when our lease started. They weren't delivered to us until12th september, and only after shouting abuse and claiming breach of contract. Stupidly we still kept the house. Mistake number 2.

Various abuse happened throughout the year from parties in the other flats. We complained to the estate agents but didnt put it in writing.Mistake number 3

We even had to get the police out on no less than 3 occasions, the last of which was when the *swears alot* from downstairs through grease all over our hallway walls. We again contacted the estate agents, were told it would be cleaned. Wishful thinking as it never happened.

The agents have now returned us our deposit after 2 months of chasing it up. But they've charged us £500 for cleaning the grease off the walls. They haven't shown us a bill for where the money went and the manger leaves the office everytime I go in.

Any of you guys got and sound legal advice to help us out. Oh and incase anyone wants to know who they are its Murdock Property Services from Newry, Northern Ireland but they do operate on mainland UK also. I can provide a number plate and vechical make if someone happens to have a set of keys held fimrly in their hand that may like to scrape paint

[ashadam]

Back in August of 2007 me and 4 other got a house though estate agents that were recommended to us by one of said friends. Mistake number 1

They had to get new special keys cut that would open front door, flat door and room door. We were promised these keys for 1st sept, when our lease started. They weren't delivered to us until12th september, and only after shouting abuse and claiming breach of contract. Stupidly we still kept the house. Mistake number 2.

Various abuse happened throughout the year from parties in the other flats. We complained to the estate agents but didnt put it in writing.Mistake number 3

We even had to get the police out on no less than 3 occasions, the last of which was when the *swears alot* from downstairs through grease all over our hallway walls. We again contacted the estate agents, were told it would be cleaned. Wishful thinking as it never happened.

The agents have now returned us our deposit after 2 months of chasing it up. But they've charged us £500 for cleaning the grease off the walls. They haven't shown us a bill for where the money went and the manger leaves the office everytime I go in.

Any of you guys got and sound legal advice to help us out. Oh and incase anyone wants to know who they are its Murdock Property Services from Newry, Northern Ireland but they do operate on mainland UK also. I can provide a number plate and vechical make if someone happens to have a set of keys held fimrly in their hand that may like to scrape paint

Is that for cleaning the whole house? Also they would of most probably used professional cleaners so will defiantly have a report.

Have a look at this site you should get the info you need.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/housin...howdoesitwork/

[hagis]

Citizens' Advice Bureau might be of use as well.

[glenk]

I had a similar problem when i was at uni. **ts tried to charge us for damage caused by previous tenants that we had complained about all year (but not put in writing). We put in a claim through the small claims court. It cost us about 30 quid and most of the forms can be done online. We got free legal advice from thn uni which was pretty good but the "judge," in the scc was really fair and we got the money back from him. When you called the police out they should have given you a crime number. Make sure you put this in the report and they shouldnt have much to argue about. Also the fact that they haven't provided you with an invoice for the cleaning puts you in a pretty good position.

Hope that helps.

[Golf_TDI]

Some good advice from Glenk and Hagis, the citizens advice are good for matters like this.. Dont stop until justice has been served but it is essential that you take this advice on board and acutally defend yourself..

[scottjay86]

The ones in the other flats kept wrecking the stairs and the hallway. They even took their own flat door off the hinges twice. We think the agents are trying to use us to pay for the damage.

Thanks for the help. Will get onto it.

[Golf_TDI]

Thats totally unfair, unjust and unacceptable, the landlord should take a long hard look at himself and seriously question his morality.. can you not get any kind of media coverage? local newspaper? university newspaper? to cover the story and that way he will lose further custom because of the way hes treated you?!

[ashadam]

[quote=Golf_TDI;246304]Thats totally unfair, unjust and unacceptable, the landlord should take a long hard look at himself and seriously question his morality.

The 2 just do not go together unfortunately.

[scottjay86]

I thought about doing that. I was thinking what will hurt them most, the local paper from where their offices are based i.e. Newry or the Belast telegraph where there will be more students and a bigger circulation.

[Golf_TDI]

LOL at Adams post, haha lol

and Scott mate, why not go for both? A bit of bad publicity never hurt anyone? Know what I mean? LOL