Does anyone know if a letting agent/manager can increase rent on a house without telling the owner, and obviously not passing any of the increase onto the owner
Edited, as response was from a tenants perspective and there's a much better reply further on the thread.
Don’t disagree, but I’d like to know more before I use that particular term. Is the theft from the tenant, landlord, both? Come round and collect your money, tie him to a chair, reach an agreement - Bob’s your uncle.
Never ever work with family, friends and animals or you'll get into trouble, good luck with a positive outcome.!
I presume you’re the landlord? If the tenancy is in your name then absolutely not, as it’s your money, not their’s. Agents owe a range of duties to their client, both contractual and fiduciary, which many of them barely understand and frequently breach (a fact which never fails to amaze me). If it’s some sort of rent-to-rent set up where you let to the “agent” who then sublets to a tenant or tenants then most likely yes they can increase the rent without passing on the difference, but check the contract. CV: 10 years plus in property management then 14 years and counting as a practising barrister (mostly specialising for the past 7 years in housing and commercial law). Feel free to drop me a PM if you want to discuss privately. Likewise, if you don’t get your money back and want to lawyer up.
Never rented a property myself so don’t know but is it a bit like commission when you auction something and the auctioneers charge both parties? Does the agent charge the landlord (ie you) a fee and then the tenants a fee as well?, in which case if he’s increased his fee to them but not the actual rent, then maybe not?
