The petition against one particular branch of C J Hole letting agency in Bristol - which has been signed by the manager of a cluster of offices in the same group - has now attracted over 10,000 supporters.
And a protest march about the branch is planned for Saturday.
Letting Agent Today reported last week that the C J Hole branch in the suburb of Southville had written a letter to landlords headed: How Do You Get More Rent' and including the sentences: "With rents increasing every week in Bristol, it is highly likely your property is due a rent increase. The demand from prospective tenants is far exceeding the number of properties available and we have never seen such a buoyant rental market."
Chris Hill, the respected managing director of five C J Hole sales and lettings offices in north, east and central Bristol, spoke out against the letter on Twitter. He said on the social media service: "No office under my control sends these nor will ever. Paul Goverd is the man who runs and controls Southville office" and "I agree [with the petition] and have signed, my offices believe in good service as reason to use us, shame Southville have chosen this route".
C J Hole has 19 branches in all, in Bristol and surrounding areas of Somerset and Gloucestershire. The Southville branch has not so far responded to a telephone message left by Letting Agent Today.
Now the militant protest group Acorn, which has campaigned against letting agents in the past, is planning a protest march at 11am on Saturday to voice its opposition to the letter. The group's website has well over 100 rsvp' messages in response to its publicity for the march.
A spokesman for those against the agency's letter has told ITV News that: "I was quite shocked to see such a crude and cynical attempt to profit from the housing crisis in Bristol. Estate agents should not be encouraging their landlord clients to raise rents in such a crude way. It's difficult for people who are in rented, because the prices are going up, but I don't think certain things should be done in promoting that you can get as much rent as possible."
Comments
I don't think he's saying that. It reads to me like a bloke who suffers an idiot for a neighbour simply trying to protect his business. Trouble is said idiot not only shares the same name but is pouring petrol on an already inflamed situation.
Surely, Mr Hill, it is the JOB of an agent to get the best rent and best tenants for your CLIENT Landlords or are you saying that rents should never increase