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JL235
Created : 28 May 2010
Edited : 28 May 2010
System : Cross Platform

Am I being paranoid?
I've been searching for somewhere to live for next year for a few months. It's a long and unforgiving process. Finally found a great house last monday. I've only spoken to the other guys in the house via e-mail; they had someone pull out from their group and so advertised for someone to fill the void.

I saw the house last monday, very nice place. Landlord owns over 20 properties and has offices in another city. Today it went for paying the deposit and admin fee for the property, but three issues made me hesitate and delay instead.
  • The woman who turned up (who wasn't the landlord) asked me to make the check out to her, and that she was just going to cash it.
  • I said I wanted to make it out to the letting agency, or whatever their business is, to which she said they didn't have a business account. It all had to be done personally.
  • She works out of the back of her car in a carpark.
Again, this is a letting agency with other 20 properties. In the four years I've spent studying in the UK and Hong Kong I've had 5 landlords; none of them have ever asked me to pay their employees personally (always to a business) and have never operated out of a carpark.

The whole thing smells bad to me, and it makes me feel really insecure about going with them. Am I just being paranoid, or are these legitimate concerns that I should listen to?

Discuss...

 

Comments
Friday, 28 May 2010, 10:58
Jayenkai
 		I'd be sceptical, too.

It could be that it's cheaper for them not to operate as a business.. 20 properties sounds more like a home-run operation. So, no business account could indeed be plausible.
But.

... You'd also be risking a lot. If something happened to the building, (electrical fire, or something like that) I very much doubt that this little group would have the funds/insurance to help you out.
Friday, 28 May 2010, 13:31
Stealth
 		This person clearly isn't serious about their business (like a 13 year old who owns a "company"). 20 properties is a lot. They should be in business.

Even if they are legit, I wouldn't buy from them. They are going to be deceptive about fixing things like they are currently being deceptive about paying business taxes.
Friday, 28 May 2010, 15:03
Mog
 		Normally i'd say cut corners, but this is a house you're speaking of- All of this sets off alarms. I go by 'No DBA, No Pay', since what would keep them from shafting you and running off with your cash? They may be legitimate and fair, but working out of the back of your car in a car park is a little too dodgy - You might as well be handing cash in a giant bag to a scruffy drug addict in a dark alley on the wrong part of the city. Unless they can prove their legitimacy, i'd avoid them like the plague, all of it just seems ...off.
Friday, 28 May 2010, 15:06
Jayenkai
 		Yeah, like Mog says, I'm all for being a cheapskate 95% of the time, but.. This is something important. You have to do it right.
Monday, 31 May 2010, 13:31
JL235
 		I was chatting to a mate of mine about this, he has some experience running his dads business. He said the landlord would be paying much higher tax if he is operating out of his own personal account, then if he is operating out of a business account (the tax is _much_ higher). That's just makes it sound even worse for me.

I think I'm gonna walk.
Monday, 31 May 2010, 13:42
Mog
 		Good Choice. The stink of fishiness is too strong with this one...
Tuesday, 01 June 2010, 11:39
JL235
 		Update: just got back from viewing potential accomodation. The house is on the other side of Canterbury, but very close to the city centre (which is good for me). The house itself is great with a massive living room, with a good size bedroom (larger then most rooms, but no double bed ). Cheap price and the landlord is a reputable one I have been with before (and had a good experience with).

Best of all it should all be sorted over the next 2 days and I can move in at the start of next month! Both are things I wanted from my new house.
Tuesday, 01 June 2010, 12:21
Mog
 		Good! the problem resolves
Tuesday, 01 June 2010, 13:42
Jayenkai
 		Awesome!!!!
Friday, 02 July 2010, 02:12
tobo
 		I know this thread is a month old, but I don't come here that often.

I work in the accommodation sector (worryingly close to Canterbury as it happens!) and a few titbits of advice I always give people signing Assured Shorthold Tenancies are:

* Regardless of who collects the money; Letting Agents on high streets, people working out of back of cars etc, you are entitled to know the full name and address of the Landlord (not the acting Landlord, but the actual propety owner).

* Make sure your landlord keeps your deposit in the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (keeps it safe and Government agencies arbitrate in any dispute). This is law. If you've paid a deposit, they HAVE to do this.

* Absolutely definately open any letters addressed to the 'Occupier'. You'd be amazed how many people I've dealt with that have been kicked out by Baliffs, completely unaware that the property has been reposessed by a lender without them knowing (Landlord usually still taking rent btw). Even if the landlord says "don't open any mail not for you, just forward it to me", OPEN IT. The lenders, banks etc, are trying to get your attention and you can usually work a deal with them direct rather than the landlord.

..I'm gibbering now.
Friday, 02 July 2010, 04:56
mole
 		Some interesting points, thanks. Will be useful when I got to uni later this year,
Saturday, 03 July 2010, 13:55
JL235
tobo Make sure your landlord keeps your deposit in the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (keeps it safe and Government agencies arbitrate in any dispute). This is law. If you've paid a deposit, they HAVE to do this.
Also be aware that if they don't then they have to return the entire deposit at the end of the year. You can also take them to your local court to force them to place your deposit into a protection scheme, and if they don't then your entitled to double the money back!