“I was taking over someone else's tenancy and due to ......”
1 Star Review
Nov 12,2013
By:
'Flora'
Nov 12,2013
Branch: Brighton, 108a Lewes Road
Services: Lettings (as a Tenant)
Would you recommend?: No
Postcode: BN1
Branch: Brighton, 108a Lewes Road
Lettings (as a Tenant)
Postcode: BN1
6
people found
this helpful
I was taking over someone else's tenancy and due to move in this weekend. However 2 days before I was due to move I received a phonecall from the agent saying I had been refused as a tenant by the landlady due to being on a zero hour contract with my job. I explained that I work full time hours and also have a guarantor but the agent wouldn't give me any chance to prove I could afford the rent. Thus I was left homeless with no help on how to resolve the situation. I had already paid £180 agency fees a couple of days before being told I couldn't move in and on asking for it back they said it is non-refundable. I argued that as they had not given me any warning that the landlady had particular requirements on the nature of a tenant's work contract it was not fair of them to keep my money. They told me it was not their responsibility to give me this information and that I should have known to tell them this before I paid.
They would not let me speak to the landlady directly to try to resolve the situation, but one of the other tenants of the house contacted her on my behalf. The landlady explained that the agents had advised her not to take me on as a tenant because of my work contract. This contradicted the agent's statement that it was the landlady who had informed them she was not willing to take on such a tenant.
I was also told by the agent that regardless of my work situation I would have still failed the referencing process as my previous estate agents had apparently refused to write me a reference. I subsequently spoke to my previous agents who informed me they would never refuse to write any previous tenants a reference unless they had not received payment for it. As I was never asked to pay for this I am assuming it was MTM's incompetence in either paying for it themselves or communicating to me that I needed to pay for it. In either case I feel I was lied to on two different accounts by MTM, one about the referencing and one about the landlady.
I was left feeling very upset and angry about how I had been treated. I feel as though I have been deliberately robbed and left homeless with no real reason as to why. I do not understand why, with a guarantor, I still am not allowed to move in. I don't understand why they even required one in the first place if they are not going to use it as reassurance that my rent will be paid every month. My manager at work has also emailed the agent explaining how much I earn but this information has been ignored by the agent.
As well as all of this I also feel the person I spoke to on the phone was rude and unsympathetic to my situation. He offered me no advice or help and instead implied that it was all my own fault. He outright refused to try to come up with any solution, knowing full well that I had been left with nowhere to move in to on 2 days' notice. On speaking to a manager they reiterated everything the other agent had told me and were equally as rude and unhelpful. I am appalled at how this agency is operating and treating customers and I have also been told by the current tenants of this property that they have been having a very bad experience with MTM throughout their tenancy. I am now sleeping on a sofa £180 out of pocket with a sour taste in my mouth.
What agent could do to change your mind?
Actually help me instead of robbing me.
Attached Filesnbsp;
6
people found
this helpful
Was this helpful?
Yes
Thank you for your review. We work hard to provide a good service to all our tenants and landlords and have to make sure we look after the interest of both. You provided us with some incorrect information regarding your employment status which unfortunately led to your application being declined by a third party referencing firm. You signed a pre-contract agreement which stated that if you failed your application your agency feed are non-refundable, which is in line with standard industry procedure. Although we argued your case ultimately your application was declined by the landlord and the referencing company. If you would like further clarification feel free to contact us.