“Back in 2006, I was on a joint tenancy with two ......”
1 Star Review
Jul 20,2014
By:
'Sunny'
Jul 20,2014
Branch: Croydon, 28 Norfolk House
George Street
Services: Lettings (as a Tenant)
Rent PCM: £300
Would you recommend?: No
Postcode: CR0
Branch: Croydon, 28 Norfolk House
George Street
Lettings (as a Tenant)
Rent PCM: £300
Postcode: CR0
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Back in 2006, I was on a joint tenancy with two others, under an AST with fixed term for one year.
On the eighth month, I put in a notice to leave the contract due to problems with my flatmates. There was this option to surrender the contract with every party's agreement, but Countrywide Croydon branch staff failed to do it. Failing that, the notice should have served as an adequate one to terminate the contract at the end of the fixed term.
However, Countrywide Croydon branch failed to terminate the contract upon repeated request, withholding my deposit and dragging me into the rolling period of the contract involuntarily. Their argument was that the contract was still running because ''tenants have still not moved out'' in the tenancy contract.
On this, I took Countrywide to the small claim court for my deposit. I lost the claim because the judge thought that this punitive clause is in effect. IN REALITY, IT WAS COUNTRYWIDE'S NEGLIGENCE WHICH LED TO THE TENANTS STILL BEING IN THERE, INSTEAD OF THE INADEQUECIES OF MY NOTICE.
This experience lasted for more than one year into early 2008. After the court case, I received Countrywide's letter on rent in arrears on my flatmates. I was dragged in because I was jointly and severally liable. Somehow, their solicitor called me and asked if I put in a notice to leave, to which of course I replied with a yes. They eventually dropped the court case.
Since this extremely obnoxious and pointless incident, I have started to sign the contract with landlords instead. I have never come across any problems with deposits and tenancy terms since then.
STEER CLEAR OF COUNTRYWIDE.
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