Letting Agencies a way of renting to avoid (Private accommodation in general)

Member Name: Beth03

Product:	Private accommodation in general
Date:	04/01/09 (50 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: There are none it just seems easier at first

Disadvantages: No direct contact with your landlord, poor service from the agent.

In general at University and especially in Huddersfield stay away from renting through agencies. There are a lot of these in Huddersfield and it is easy to fall into the trap of going with this so called easy options. As it is though you are better off renting through a University approved private landlord. Letting agents receive a fee from landlords to fill their houses and manage any complaints the tenants may have. The problem with this is that agents don't have to have any prior knowledge of renting properties and can just give you poor service and the last thing you need with your studies is problems with your house.

Private landlords care about the well being of their tenants and as the profit they get from the rent doesn't need to be hiked up to cover commission costs the price you're charged will be fairer.
I've been at University for four years and this is the first year I've been unfortunate enough to get saddled with an agency. Friends of mine have also had problems with the same agency one of them was electrocuted by bad wiring. Agencies like this are fundamentally con industries and take no responsibility for shoddy work in the property citing it as the Landlord's issue. Unfortunately they avoid giving you the landlords details at all costs. Which is by the way illegal.

Summary: A non specific reccommendation for students in Huddersfield looking for housing.