Morning all,
We decided to move back in the summer due to my CP's job relocation so I set about getting agents around to value the house. I got three out and possibly against my better judgement, went for the one that gave me the top valuation. A neighbour also used them and advised me not to as the service was so poor, but I didn't listen.
I signed a 16 week sole agency contract on 05/08/2011. The contact itself is VERY short, it's only a few paragraphs and doesn't contain anythin about what they will do to sell the house. One paragraph in particular was about a £50 withdrawal fee, and I asked about this before signing the contract. I was advised by the agent that this wouldn't usually be requested if I was to terminate at the end of the initial 16 week period.
3 weeks later and although the sign is up, the online listing is missing all the detail, plus it's not listed on all the websites shown in their promotional material. The listing on their own website is fixed after I complain, but I still have to phone every week to chase up being listed on PrimeLocation and FindaProperty.com.
I called a few weeks ao and said that if the listings were not sorted out within a week then I would reconsider my position. A day later and everything was fixed, only to be broken again in another week. Really annoyed at this point I tried pining but could never get to speak to the agent, and my calls aren't returned.
At the start of this week I sent them a latter explaining that due to the problems I would not be renewing the contract at the end of the initial period and as per their terms and conditions expected the contract to end on 25/11/2011. I received a reply confirming that it would take 15 days for them to remove me from their register plus that a £50 admin fee is payable.
Further to this, I have noticed that they have removed my listing over two weeks early, and was informed by a friendy neighbour that the sign has been taken down as well. I'm not happy about paying an admin fee for such terrible service, but I'm more concerned with the fact that they have a set of keys to the house. I want to collect these on Monday, but I get the feeling that they won't hand them over until I pay up.
Can they do this? In my mind they have now breached the contact. If they refuse to give me the keys can I call the Police, or would it still be considered a civil matter?
Thanks,
Rich.
We decided to move back in the summer due to my CP's job relocation so I set about getting agents around to value the house. I got three out and possibly against my better judgement, went for the one that gave me the top valuation. A neighbour also used them and advised me not to as the service was so poor, but I didn't listen.
I signed a 16 week sole agency contract on 05/08/2011. The contact itself is VERY short, it's only a few paragraphs and doesn't contain anythin about what they will do to sell the house. One paragraph in particular was about a £50 withdrawal fee, and I asked about this before signing the contract. I was advised by the agent that this wouldn't usually be requested if I was to terminate at the end of the initial 16 week period.
3 weeks later and although the sign is up, the online listing is missing all the detail, plus it's not listed on all the websites shown in their promotional material. The listing on their own website is fixed after I complain, but I still have to phone every week to chase up being listed on PrimeLocation and FindaProperty.com.
I called a few weeks ao and said that if the listings were not sorted out within a week then I would reconsider my position. A day later and everything was fixed, only to be broken again in another week. Really annoyed at this point I tried pining but could never get to speak to the agent, and my calls aren't returned.
At the start of this week I sent them a latter explaining that due to the problems I would not be renewing the contract at the end of the initial period and as per their terms and conditions expected the contract to end on 25/11/2011. I received a reply confirming that it would take 15 days for them to remove me from their register plus that a £50 admin fee is payable.
Further to this, I have noticed that they have removed my listing over two weeks early, and was informed by a friendy neighbour that the sign has been taken down as well. I'm not happy about paying an admin fee for such terrible service, but I'm more concerned with the fact that they have a set of keys to the house. I want to collect these on Monday, but I get the feeling that they won't hand them over until I pay up.
Can they do this? In my mind they have now breached the contact. If they refuse to give me the keys can I call the Police, or would it still be considered a civil matter?
Thanks,
Rich.
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