Work done my previous agent's workmen after I had changed agents - Who is responsible for payment?

Letting Agents

In May I asked my agent to have some remedial work done to one of my propteries via their maintance divsion (a separate company owned by the same person). In June the tenant gave notice and left in July. In August I changed agents and a new tenant moved in. The maintance divsion of my old agent has recently sent me a bill for the work I commissioned in May that was finished in September.

The workmen made a couple of visits, without notice, but when they turned up with tools and told my (new) tenant they were from the landlord (i.e. me) she let them in and they carried out the repairs. For added complexity when they got there they also replaced a window they thought needed to be replaced. The maintence division asked them to quote but for reasons unknown they just installed a new the window anyway (at a cost of £250 in addition to the original quote).

My new agent tells me I don;t need to pay any of it but I expect the maintence division will be of a different opinion.

I would be gratefiul for the community's thoughts on the subject and suggestions as to what I shoudl do next,.