MSE News: Letting agency fees 'truly out of control'

Former_MSE_Helen · 12 June 2013 at 12:24PM

"Tenants are having to go without food and heating to cover 'out of control' letting agency costs, says Shelter..."

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Letting agency fees 'truly out of control'

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beetlejoose · 12 June 2013 at 12:47PM

It's not just the up-front fees either.

Every year I have to pay £120 to renew my tenancy for another year
When my girlfriend moved in, I had to pay an additional £120 to update my tenancy
When I requested to purchase a family dog, I had to pay - you guessed it - another £120!

I can't wait to buy my own house and give my letting agents the finger.

Sebastian

G_M · 12 June 2013 at 12:50PM

beetlejoose wrote: »

it's not just the up-front fees either.
every year i have to pay £120 to renew my tenancy for another year

move to a periodictenancy. Free.
when my girlfriend moved in, i had to pay an additional £120 to update my tenancy

did youdiscuss this with your landlord?
when i requested to purchase a family dog, i had to pay - you guessed it - another £120!

many (most) tas prohibit dogs- for good reasons. Lucky you gotconsent!

:t.................................. :t

G_M · 12 June 2013 at 12:54PM

Landlords also have a responsibility for many of the extortionate letting agents fees.

Many LLs have no idea what their (yes, their) agents are doing. They rashly delegate far too much responsibility to the agent.

When selecting an agent, the LL should not just check what the agent will charge the LL, and what they will do for that fee, but also how they will treat their (yes, the landlord's) tenant and what they will charge them.

And boycot an agent who is going to alienate his (the LL's) tenant.

Reue · 12 June 2013 at 1:04PM

beetlejoose wrote: »

It's not just the up-front fees either.
Every year I have to pay £120 to renew my tenancy for another year

When my girlfriend moved in, I had to pay an additional £120 to update my tenancy

When I requested to purchase a family dog, I had to pay - you guessed it - another £120!

I can't wait to buy my own house and give my letting agents the finger.

Sebastian

All 3 avoidable charges

mystery1100 · 12 June 2013 at 1:21PM

whats worse is when the letting agent then charges you the same fee again if you were to move to a new property with the same agent, even though they have done all the referencing etc and know you're a good tenant

BitterAndTwisted · 12 June 2013 at 1:27PM

Of course letting-agency fees are out of control: it's a seller's market and there's absolutely no regulation. And I can't see any regulation forthcoming either, alas.

Manchee · 12 June 2013 at 1:27PM

Reue wrote: »

All 3 avoidable charges

Not necessarily, for instance if the LL doesnt want the tenant to go onto a periodic tenancy, if he wants more security, he doesnt control how much the letting agent charges. Same with all the other examples. Sure, the LL is in charge but the LA controls the cost of all of these things. Unless you're advocating not informing the LL about additional occupiers or pets.

mystery1100 wrote: »

whats worse is when the letting agent then charges you the same fee again if you were to move to a new property with the same agent, even though they have done all the referencing etc and know you're a good tenant

Ugh, totally. And whats with the stoopidly expensive credit check when we all know it really only costs 10-35 quid???

beetlejoose · 12 June 2013 at 1:28PM

Thanks Reue and G_M.

Perhaps some further information on how I might avoid paying my annual renewal would benefit other forum users as well as myself.

Cheers

beetlejoose · 12 June 2013 at 1:33PM

Manchee wrote: »

Unless you're advocating not informing the LL about additional occupiers or pets.

Agreed; I didn't get around to / didn't even consider announcing the change in my relationship status, so I didn't kick up a fuss when the LA discovered the change themselves.

Also: My LA doesn't always keep their end of the bargain (not turning up for inspections after I've booked the day off etc) so I'm even less inclined to pay the fees.

I understand that "if you don't like it, find another house" but as money savers and sensible human beings, I think you can appreciate that this isn't really an option.

G_M · 12 June 2013 at 1:35PM

beetlejoose wrote: »

Thanks Reue and G_M.

Perhaps some further information on how I might avoid paying my annual renewal would benefit other forum users as well as myself.

Cheers

Ending/Renewing an AST (what happens when the Fixed Term ends?)(What is a Periodic Tenancy?)(How can a LL remove a tenant?)(How can a tenant end a tenancy?)

MSE News: Letting agency fees 'truly out of control'

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