Colonia is a family run letting agents committed to traditional values and modern standarts. Based in Lincoln we have over 100 year's local knowledge. Colonia offers a full range of property services ranging from letting only to full management, plus many additional services.
Reviews (1)
Saket
Jun 25, 2014
I am having a horrific experience with this letting agency. I can understand that the letting agencies can be unreasonable in imposing charges when on leaves the property. But these guys are simply classic. They have charged me with inflated bills for cleaning and the best part is that they refuse to provide me any evidence (in form of quotes, invoices or receipts from the cleaning company). Furthermore, they have listed some amount for the repair/replacement and completely refuse to give me an itemized invoice or any proof of what work was done or repaired/replaced (even after several email requests).
On top of that they are asking me for a fee for breaking up the contract (even though I had notified both letting agents and the landlord even before signing the lease that I will probably leave earlier, to which they were agreeable). They did mention that I will be liable for letting agent fee (along with the rent) till the new tenants move in (to which I agreed).
But now they are saying that while I had to pay rent only till new tenants move in, I am still liable for the letting agent fee (which is basically a percentage of the rent that they get from the monthly rent) for the remaining duration of the contract. Their reason is that the landlord pays this fee in bulk when the tenancy starts and if the tenancy is broken in the middle (even though I had them informed right from the start and they agreed), they won't return the excess amount to the landlord and hence I have to compensate for it.
I argued that where is the loss? The landlord has been getting rent all long (without break) as I paid the rent till the new tenants moved in, so you have also been getting your fee all along. I even said to them, if they can show me there is a loss to the landlord and I am liable for it then I will pay. Their absurd argument is, that we are not bound to return the money back to the landlord so it is a loss to the landlord and hence I should pay.
I even said if they can show me a proof or contract (between letting agency and landlord) that protects the interests of the letting agent and makes the tenants liable, I will still pay. They absolutely refused to show it. Most of all arrogantly refused to show any proof or reasonable logic...
Finally, I said that since it is disputed amount, please claim it from the Rent Deposit.
They refused that as well and want to claim it from the rent amount that they have to return to me (pro rata rent refund for the month new tenant moved in). I have emails from them which clearly state that they can adjust this mitigation fee from the deposit amount (and hence I asked them). They are now saying that claiming it from deposit will make it disputed claim and we don't think that the amount is disputed so we will claim it from the rent refund.
I am already exploring legal options against them as all legal counsels I have had so far have advised me that I am well within my rights to know what I am paying for. Please be very careful when doing business with this letting agency.
On top of that they are asking me for a fee for breaking up the contract (even though I had notified both letting agents and the landlord even before signing the lease that I will probably leave earlier, to which they were agreeable). They did mention that I will be liable for letting agent fee (along with the rent) till the new tenants move in (to which I agreed).
But now they are saying that while I had to pay rent only till new tenants move in, I am still liable for the letting agent fee (which is basically a percentage of the rent that they get from the monthly rent) for the remaining duration of the contract. Their reason is that the landlord pays this fee in bulk when the tenancy starts and if the tenancy is broken in the middle (even though I had them informed right from the start and they agreed), they won't return the excess amount to the landlord and hence I have to compensate for it.
I argued that where is the loss? The landlord has been getting rent all long (without break) as I paid the rent till the new tenants moved in, so you have also been getting your fee all along. I even said to them, if they can show me there is a loss to the landlord and I am liable for it then I will pay. Their absurd argument is, that we are not bound to return the money back to the landlord so it is a loss to the landlord and hence I should pay.
I even said if they can show me a proof or contract (between letting agency and landlord) that protects the interests of the letting agent and makes the tenants liable, I will still pay. They absolutely refused to show it. Most of all arrogantly refused to show any proof or reasonable logic...
Finally, I said that since it is disputed amount, please claim it from the Rent Deposit.
They refused that as well and want to claim it from the rent amount that they have to return to me (pro rata rent refund for the month new tenant moved in). I have emails from them which clearly state that they can adjust this mitigation fee from the deposit amount (and hence I asked them). They are now saying that claiming it from deposit will make it disputed claim and we don't think that the amount is disputed so we will claim it from the rent refund.
I am already exploring legal options against them as all legal counsels I have had so far have advised me that I am well within my rights to know what I am paying for. Please be very careful when doing business with this letting agency.
