Beware of Unjust Charges and Lack of Transparency
I recently had a very disappointing experience with this letting agency regarding the deductions from our holding deposit. Initially, they quoted us £1100 for paint repair and deep cleaning. When we requested a detailed quotation from their tradesperson, hoping to find a more competitive quote, they provided us with a vague and inflated estimate of £1450 from a painting service company. This suspiciously increased amount felt like retaliation for our inquiry.
To make matters worse, the quotation included deep cleaning services, which, upon investigation, don’t appear to be part of the painting company’s service offerings. It’s laughable to think painters now do deep cleaning! There was also a discrepancy in the painting description that needed repair, suggesting they never even visited the property.
Despite our reservations, we reluctantly agreed to their initial quotation, suspecting it was manipulated. They charged us for deep cleaning, which was not mentioned in our contract. Our contract only required us to leave the property in the same condition as when we first moved in.
When I requested the check-out report from the third-party company that conducts the audits, they said they needed to consult with the agency before providing us a copy. This was strange, as the check-in report was sent directly to us, and tenants have a legal right to receive this information. The auditing company never got back to us, which added to our suspicion.
After much stress and numerous communications, the agency eventually removed the deep cleaning charges upon realizing we were right. However, their initial attempt to overcharge us and the lack of transparency in their dealings left a bitter taste.
This entire ordeal has been incredibly stressful and disappointing. It’s clear they are exploiting their power to manipulate charges.