Dear Mr Thorpe, I note your comments and feel that there should be an explanation. After a large number of viewings there were 4 applications for the property with little to choose between them. As we act on behalf of the landlord in renting out their property and have a duty of care to ensure we get the best rent for them we asked all four applicants if they wished to increase their offer on the rent, some did and as per your decision some didn't, after which there was no further negotiations as would be in the event of a property sale. All 4 applications were then put to the landlord for their consideration and decision as to who they wanted to proceed to referencing with. The landlord chose one application which unfortunately was not yours but as a point of interest was at the advertised rent not a higher offered figure. I understand that we called you this morning but as there was no reply we texted to let you know that your application had been unsuccesful, while we always want to let all parties know the outcome of the landlords decision as soon as possible in this instance we should have had that personal conversation to explain the above and let you know that it was a difficuIt decision with little if anything to choose between the aplicants. Also, that should the accepted applicants references fail would you like us to let you know and give you first refusal before any re advertising. I have made my feelings known in the office that this call should have been made not a text, so I apologise for that lack of personal communication. For the record I would also like to make clear that as a company we do not, as some do, submit all applications for referencing first before speaking to our landlord client and thus spending the applicants money regardless of the property only being let to one and meaning every time a new application is submitted, fees have to be paid. This is why we put the information applicants provide us with to the landlord for a decision and providing all references come back ok then the tenancy can be offered which gives a little more certainty for tenants. I would also like to clarify that while we are in business greed is not a motivating factor as in this case had it gone to the highest rent offer then we would have earnt an extra £7.50. I hope the above goes someway to explain our position, the process and our responsibility to our landlord client while endeavouring to treat things in as transparant and fair manner as possible. I fully appreciate that you have not got the property you had hoped for and the disappointment that this creates however if you would like to be kept informed in regards to this particular property then please let us know or if you wish to apply for any others then we will be happy to put your application forward to the individual landlords. Kind regards Paul Clark Managing Director.
As we had this correspondence at the time through facebook I was not aware of this review hence the delay in uploading this reply.