Letting agent never inspected property even though I'm paying for fully managed

Letting Agents

I was paying for a fully managed service @ 10%. The last tenants were drug farmers who grew lots of plants and caused lots of damage. The agent never inspected as he was supposed to or this wouldn't have happened. On top of that he never took a security deposit although he has given me back what it should have been, but it was short. He said it was an oversight and would sort it out, that was a month ago. It took him 5 months to respond to my messages and the no less than 100 visits to his office.

I have put your complaint in writing, I have spoken to him about it on the phone and in person. I cant escalate it to their redress scheme as I don't believe they are part of one unless anyone knows different. I have told him some time ago that if he doesn't pay for the damage then I will be taking him to court.

It's now cost me the best part of �£15k to put the damage right that wouldn't have happened had he inspected as he should have. I don't have a contract with the agent, he doesn't do contracts with landlords, but I was previously paying 5% but upped it to 10% to have fully managed. As of a few weeks ago he has started ignoring me again so I have no option but to start court proceedings. As a minimum I'm still owed part of the security deposit.

Has anyone else had an agent be that incompetent and not inspect that the property was damaged for the tune of this amount? If so, what course of action did you take in order to claim back your costs and expenses? Did you go straight to their insurance company, arbitration, full on court? Can anyone recommend a good solicitor who has gone down the route of suing an estate agent for such incompetencies?

Thanks all