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Renting question - am i being conned
MattSt
Posts: 6 Forumite
I rent a flat in Birmingham and renew my contract every 6 months. Each time I renew, I am charged a £100.00 admin fee. Is this legal?
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Why not ask for a twelve month tenancy?Don't lie, thieve, cheat or steal. The Government do not like the competition.
The Lord Giveth and the Government Taketh Away.
I'm sorry, I don't apologise. That's just the way I am. Homer (Simpson)0 -
There's still the £100 charge each time and I'm not sure I want to commit that long. Are they allowed to charge this admin fee though, for esentially doing nothing?0
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IS it stated in your contract?0
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Does it not switch to a rolling 1-month contract after that? I had an initial 6mth contract which occured the admin fee then I've been renting on a 1 month basis for passed 3 years. No more admin fee. If they want me out they have to give me 2 months but as I am moving now I only have to give them 1.Official DFW Nerd Club - Member no. 038 :j0
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I've experienced the same scenario as Little Miss Scrimper. After the intial six months, the contract just rolls on, you don't need to sign. There's a special name for it, I'm sure.Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
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It's called a rolling tenancy Doozergirl.
If it is managed by an agent, they are getting the £100 rather than the Landlord, so they will probably be reluctant to suggest a rolling tenancy to the Landlord :rolleyes:
Also, Landlord may want the security of at least 6 months. Could try and haggle with agent next renewal for their fee. They won't want to tell the Landlord that they are losing a tenant due to their fee. When I managed residential I think we charged £50 (we were rubbish though, so that's probably why we were cheap
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if you are renting thro an agency but have direct contact with the landlord, ask him if you can switch to having a contract with him directly. he will probably be happy with an initial 6 month assured shorthold. after this it automatically becomes a "rolling tenancy" ie you have to give 1 month/he has to give 2 months notice if either of you want to break the agreement.
we were stuck in the same position, agency wanted to charge us or landlord £40 every month to renew. wot a rip off!0 -
clairehi wrote:if you are renting thro an agency but have direct contact with the landlord, ask him if you can switch to having a contract with him directly. he will probably be happy with an initial 6 month assured shorthold. after this it automatically becomes a "rolling tenancy" ie you have to give 1 month/he has to give 2 months notice if either of you want to break the agreement.
That's what we have here. Probably won't work if the agency holds the deposit for the OP's residence though?0 -
This is one of those cons that letting agencies have dreamt up in order to make money. Some of them insist on doing everything every 6 months at great cost to the tenant. The correct term is a 'periodic tenancy'. Basically all AST can be for any length even, in theory, one month. In practice the law says a tenant can't be evicted within the first 6 months unless they have broken a term of the tenancy agreement - so in practice tenancies are for 6 months. Once the initial term is up whether its 6 or 12 months or any other term, the tenancy become periodic - becomes monthly if the rent is paid monthly or 4 weekly if the rent is paid 4 weekly. The protection is still there for both the landlord and the tenant so no need to grant a new tenancy - just a money spinner!!~A mind is a terrible thing to waste on housework~0
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