Lettings
Q I own a two-bedroom flat in Outer London, let at £950 per month. The agent arranged for some work to be done before he approved it for letting. As soon as the tenants moved in, they started requesting work to be done.
First, they wanted a power shower. Since then, they have reported a chip to the inside of a kitchen cupboard, a missing rail above a window and a broken lock to the electric cupboard. I had the first two fixed and the agent visited and found the lock stiff but OK.
Now, the tenants have reported that the front door would not open. They contacted a locksmith out of hours, on the other side of London, who charged £240 to replace the lock (my local man says it would have been £100). My agent asked me to reimburse the tenants. Following their difficulty with another lock, I feel the problem could have been unfounded. I offered to pay £140 as good will, but the agent does...