Extortionate end of tenancy check out fees!

tash1252

Hi everyone,

I have had so many problems with the letting agent im am with from the beginning of our contract less than 6 months ago. We got a call 2 weeks ago saying the landlord is giving us our 2 months notice as he is selling the house (it is in our contract to do that... unfortunately). We have accepted the fact we have to move out first week of Jan but what we dont agree with is the LA asking for over 117 pounds to check us out. We are in a small unfurnished 2 bedroom house and think that this is overpriced. We contacted the "independant" inventory clerks company and the LA had obviously been in contact with them because as soon as we phoned they knew who we were and wouldnt give us any information. The LA has been nothing but difficult, not willing to be reasonable in any cicumstances. I have had enough of dealing with them back and forth telling me each time, if we dont pay it before the check out date they will seek legal advice and take it from our deposit. Any help would be much appreciated.

poppysarah

Ring shelter. Have your contract handy and read through it. They can't invent new fees.

chewmylegoff

tash1252 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I have had so many problems with the letting agent im am with from the beginning of our contract less than 6 months ago. We got a call 2 weeks ago saying the landlord is giving us our 2 months notice as he is selling the house (it is in our contract to do that... unfortunately). We have accepted the fact we have to move out first week of Jan but what we dont agree with is the LA asking for over 117 pounds to check us out. We are in a small unfurnished 2 bedroom house and think that this is overpriced. We contacted the "independant" inventory clerks company and the LA had obviously been in contact with them because as soon as we phoned they knew who we were and wouldnt give us any information. The LA has been nothing but difficult, not willing to be reasonable in any cicumstances. I have had enough of dealing with them back and forth telling me each time, if we dont pay it before the check out date they will seek legal advice and take it from our deposit. Any help would be much appreciated.

what does it say in your contract?

my tenancy agreement specifies that i am liable for checkout fees and states the amount. by way of comparison i just paid £150 checkout fee to exit a tenancy for a 3 bed flat, and my current 2 bed flat has £100 check out fee (which I had to pay before moving in). Both in London.

if you have got a clause such as this in your contract then i expect you are obliged to pay.

you could phone the company and pose as a landlord who needs a checkout done and ask what their standard fee is to see if the letting agent is marking it up.

Incisor

If it says £117 in your contract, then you must pay. If it doesn't, then they can only attempt to deduct from the deposit and you can raise a dispute which you should win. I assume your deposit is protected

sukieq

I've just moved out of my flat and was intially charged £150 check out fee. I checked my tenancy agreement and there was a clause stating that I was liable to check out fees 'not exceeding £100'.

I got my £50 back and I guess my advice is the same as others-check your tenancy agreement carefully.

Best of luck

drc

Our checking out fee is £95 (paid in advance at the beginning of the tenancy), the landlord pays the checking in fee, this is through a professional inventory company. £117 does sound like a lot but surely there will have been something in your contract about checking out fees? If it wasn't in the contract in the first place, I don't see how you can be expected to pay it?

Premier_2

tash1252 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I have had so many problems with the letting agent im am with from the beginning of our contract less than 6 months ago. We got a call 2 weeks ago saying the landlord is giving us our 2 months notice as he is selling the house (it is in our contract to do that... unfortunately). ...

It doesn't matter what is in your contract, if you have an ASTA, you have a statutory right to remain in the property for at least 6 months if you wish.