Estate Agent Letting Fees

eamonn

My house had been let out with same agent for 4 years the agreement was they take 10% of the rental income, at the end of 4 years the tenants left and the property was empty for 3-4 months until the agent found new tenants mid Feb 2006 , the first payment was half what I expected , I just assumed it was a part month payment.

When I enquired further I was told I had been charged a 300GBP letting fee, I live abroad and was never made aware of this charge in any email comms etc. Further the rental agrrement is only for 6 months and had I been aware of this charge I may not have agreed to a 6 month rental and held out for a 1 year rental.

I am going to go back and ask how can they charge at a letting fee without even informing me let alone getting my agreement, I am sure I have signed nothing infact i have not been in their office in over 4 years.

Anybody any advice or similar experiences.

dunstonh

Ask to see the contract you signed. Then you will see if it is a valid fee or not.

eamonn

thanks , have asked for copy of contract and will let you know how I get on.

Somerset

The 6 month contract is normal - most tenancy's are assured 6 monthly.

The letting fee of £ 300.00 seems very high. I'd double check where that came from.

Gorgeous_George

When I was looking or an agent in the North East I was quoted one month's rent to introduce a buyer followed by 12.5% of rent. It is normal for a let to be on a 6 month basis. You could insist on a longer term (upto 2 years) but be careful, it may prove difficult to get your tenants to leave early should your circumstances change.

In the end, I advertised in shop windows, 'interviewed' 12 applicants and chose those I felt most comfortable with. They' ve been in for 3 yrs 7 months and don't seem in a rush to leave but then, £325 pm for a 4 bed house is a bargain. I'd rather they stayed so the rent has been the same since they moved in. They are currently on a 12 month let and are model tenants.



GG

doddsy

eamonn,
the usual charge here is 10% of the rental income, usually over a six month Assured Shorthold Tenancy period. The fee is usually one months rent. You should have an agreement signed by yourself which covers this. If not, ask them for a copy, and also check whether they are undertaking a Schedule of Condition on the property and a three month inspection of the property.

eamonn

Thanks for all the replies.

As I suspected I never signed a contract infact they said the they do not put contracts into practice in their letting department.

At the time I do remember ensuring they would not charge a letting fee which was the reason I choose them and to be fair at the time they did not ie they just charged a flat 10% of the rental income .

The original lease was for a year with the same tenants then renewing from 2001 until late 2005.

I have now been informed by EA that they subsequently charged a letting fee twice in 2002 and 2003 on quote " the introduction of a new tenant ".

To my knowledge the same tenants were in the house for full 4 years 2001 until late 2005.

I know some left and new ones moved in ( it was a group of 3/4 young professionals) but I was certainly never made aware of any new contracts or more importantly letting fee charges.