Sir, - The lease in my apartment has recently come up for renewal. It is a private lease between my flatmate and me and our landlord. There is no agency involved.
However, the property management company which looks after the building was aware of the lease renewal and called my landlord. It indicated that he could command a rent of up to £900 a month and it could get tenants to pay this. Surely this action is unethical, if not illegal. Is there any action that can be taken?
If rents were not high enough, do we now have to contend with greedy property management agencies taking advantage of the accommodation shortage and encouraging their clients, our landlords, to raise rents at any opportunity? Luckily I have a good relationship with my landlord and we have come to a mutual agreement.
I might also add that the same company only recently fixed the fire alarm in the building after almost three months, despite repeated calls. - Yours, etc.,
Ronnie Kiernan, Patrick Street, Dublin 8.