r/Glasgow Tools

Title	Do not rent from Lets Direct (Southside) Ltd if you care about your mental health!
Author	amiioy
Body	I was renting a property with Direct (Southside) Ltd for almost 2,5 years. The postcode was G411NW if this is helpful to someone. I will be moving out on the 16th of February 2021. When I was looking if other people had problems with them, I found two different threads in here where people warn others: [https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/hjvhc7/a\_warning\_about\_lets\_direct\_southside\_ltd/](https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/hjvhc7/a_warning_about_lets_direct_southside_ltd/) [https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/4kjsqi/anyone\_heard\_of\_lets\_direct/](https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/4kjsqi/anyone_heard_of_lets_direct/) My story with them: The flat looked nice, the rent was quite cheap and I just came to UK so I was quite naive. Each time something was broken it was a pain to get anything done. Their approach is always: 'Ok so we need to do this and that in the flat so we will be there on that date and if you are not in, do not worry - we have the keys so we will enter.' Once some guy entered the property to check gas when I was having a bath! Since I moved in all rent was paid 12 days earlier every time, I have fixed holes in the walls, I have repainted the flat. I was taking care of the flat like it was truly mine. I thought it would be rewarded with at least normal attitude (not even dreaming about it being appreciated), but I was wrong. Recently I and my partner bought a house and it was time to inform the agency about that. I still wanted to be fair and make it easy to the letting agents so I have contacted them earlier than 28 days before the move-out. 13 days earlier to be exact. I have offered to make nice pictures and cooperate. One day I have received a message which was informing me (not asking) that 3 people will come to the flat in a couple of days at 3PM to see it and that it is already scheduled. I did not want to be rude and I wanted to get this over with so I agreed (it was supposed to take 10 minutes anyway). I thought that three people is not that bad, I will just stay in the corner of my office and that should be fine. Since I have asthma I am at home since March 2020 and I need to minimize the contact with people to the minimum. On that day at 3:20PM no one came. I have called the agency and they told me that someone was supposed to call me that the viewings were cancelled, but no one did so they apologize. Fine, it can happen. Whatever. Few days later I have received a message from the agency once again that the viewing was scheduled for Tuesday 5PM and I am advised to vacate the flat for 30 minutes. Once again, no one asked me if that's ok, I was just informed. Once again - "if you are not in the flat we have the keys!" I have replied that there is no way I will allow strangers to my house and leave it because: 1. I will not leave my cats alone with some randoms 2. I do not trust people and someone could steal or destroy something. I also informed them that since I will not leave the property for 30 minutes for the viewing I cannot agree to have a bigger group of people in the flat since there will be no way to make it safe for people (including me who is shielding). I have asked them to consider just virtual viewings - other agencies who care for health and safety of others do that. I have also quoted the official government website: [https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-moving-home/pages/advice-to-the-public/](https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-moving-home/pages/advice-to-the-public/) >"If you are a tenant who is shielding, you should not be compelled to allow viewings and your landlord or letting agent should check this with you beforehand." >
Reddit Link	https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/kz8q7g/do_not_rent_from_lets_direct_southside_ltd_if_you/
Created	Sun 17th Jan 2021 3:49pm
Status	normal (Removed by [])

I was renting a property with Direct (Southside) Ltd for almost 2,5 years.
The postcode was G411NW if this is helpful to someone.
I will be moving out on the 16th of February 2021.

When I was looking if other people had problems with them, I found two different threads in here where people warn others:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/hjvhc7/a\_warning\_about\_lets\_direct\_southside\_ltd/](https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/hjvhc7/a_warning_about_lets_direct_southside_ltd/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/4kjsqi/anyone\_heard\_of\_lets\_direct/](https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/4kjsqi/anyone_heard_of_lets_direct/)

**My story with them:**

The flat looked nice, the rent was quite cheap and I just came to UK so I was quite naive.

Each time something was broken it was a pain to get anything done.
Their approach is always: 'Ok so we need to do this and that in the flat so we will be there on that date and if you are not in, do not worry - we have the keys so we will enter.'
Once some guy entered the property to check gas when I was having a bath!

Since I moved in all rent was paid 12 days earlier every time, I have fixed holes in the walls, I have repainted the flat. I was taking care of the flat like it was truly mine. I thought it would be rewarded with at least normal attitude (not even dreaming about it being appreciated), but I was wrong.

Recently I and my partner bought a house and it was time to inform the agency about that.
I still wanted to be fair and make it easy to the letting agents so I have contacted them earlier than 28 days before the move-out. 13 days earlier to be exact.
I have offered to make nice pictures and cooperate.

One day I have received a message which was informing me (not asking) that 3 people will come to the flat in a couple of days at 3PM to see it and that it is already scheduled. I did not want to be rude and I wanted to get this over with so I agreed (it was supposed to take 10 minutes anyway).
I thought that three people is not that bad, I will just stay in the corner of my office and that should be fine.
Since I have asthma I am at home since March 2020 and I need to minimize the contact with people to the minimum.

On that day at 3:20PM no one came. I have called the agency and they told me that someone was supposed to call me that the viewings were cancelled, but no one did so they apologize.
Fine, it can happen. Whatever.

Few days later I have received a message from the agency once again that the viewing was scheduled for Tuesday 5PM and I am advised to vacate the flat for 30 minutes. Once again, no one asked me if that's ok, I was just informed. Once again - "if you are not in the flat we have the keys!"

I have replied that there is no way I will allow strangers to my house and leave it because:
1. I will not leave my cats alone with some randoms
2. I do not trust people and someone could steal or destroy something.

I also informed them that since I will not leave the property for 30 minutes for the viewing I cannot agree to have a bigger group of people in the flat since there will be no way to make it safe for people (including me who is shielding).
I have asked them to consider just virtual viewings - other agencies who care for health and safety of others do that.

I have also quoted the official government website:
[https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-moving-home/pages/advice-to-the-public/](https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-moving-home/pages/advice-to-the-public/)

>"If you are a tenant who is shielding, you should not be compelled to allow viewings and your landlord or letting agent should check this with you beforehand."
>