Thieving Property Management Company.

[SoulKiss]

Having handed in notice on the place where we are living, and a new place being found, when the new Estate Agents went to our Management Company for a reference it got bounced with a "Sorry they (as in us) need to pay us £42 (£38 + Postage or something) before we will give a reference".

Thats worse than the banks ever were.

There was me being reasonable and arranging to let their Estate Agent in on Saturday so they can get the place on the market.

I think tomorrow is going to see a phone call explaining how no-one will be in on Saturday, or any day between now and the day after our notice period is up.

I am correct in saying that in English law they are not allowed to enter the premises without my consent aren't I?

[Bluefish]

yup, unless it's an emergency or something.

[Dave Mac]

i think you will find that they have to give you 48 hrs notice to enter the property and you have to comply

[thefallenangel]

Offer a swap with the Estate Agents.

[hannakournikova]

That's a bit ****. I'm a property manager, I would never dream of charging that for a ref.
In my place we need to give 24 hours notice. It's also written in our tenancies that the tenant will give us access to the house for viewing purposes in the last few months. So check that out too bud :)

[Electro]

Dont let them in to show anyone around, its an invitation for any scrote to see what you have in your home. 7 days is the legal amount for notice to enter. I know the above post says 24 hours but it wouldnt be classed as a legal entry. For the £20 it would cost to change a lock, i would consider this until you leave. If they want access that badly, charge them a fee of about the same amount they want for a reference!!

[SoulKiss]

Dont let them in to show anyone around, its an invitation for any scrote to see what you have in your home. 7 days is the legal amount for notice to enter. I know the above post says 24 hours but it wouldnt be classed as a legal entry. For the £20 it would cost to change a lock, i would consider this until you leave. If they want access that badly, charge them a fee of about the same amount they want for a reference!!

Thats my thinking.

I'll hit them with a "I was going to cancel my plans on Saturday to be reasonable and let your estate agent in as soon as possible, even though it was less than 7 days notice. As however you are levying an unreasonable charge for a reference I feel no such need to be reasonable, please let them know I can't be in on Saturday and they will need to re-arrange for the following weekend. Thank you".

[a1istair]

Don't forget they are trying to sell the flat to someone else when they come around. I'm sure you can use your imagination to put potential future tenants off!

[yorkie_chris]

Get davepreston round to hang about as if he's a neighbour and ask them all if they like dags :)

[andrewsmith]

:winner:

[SoulKiss]

Well short version, managed to get them down to reducing the fee to 50%, went up the food chain in their organisation, pointed out that I no longer felt inclined to cancel plans I had on Saturday to let their estate agent in to get the place back on the market, which, had the desired effect and the Reference appeared in my email in about an hour :)

[Viney]

In other words, you talked them into submission? Good skills. Wonder if they typed it up on a MAC just for irony like :lol:

[SuzukiNess]

i think you will find that they have to give you 48 hrs notice to enter the property and you have to comply
you dont HAVE to comply - just say i'm not available at that time and a more convenient time is ... and then change that time until the month runs out :) :cyclops: