Letting agent help please

mmm_cake

Hi,

Im currently renting a property and because they want to up the rent we are moving out when our tenancy expires next month. I have found another property and the new agent has contacted the old/current one for a reference. I think they use FCC paragon.
My current agent hasn't replied to any emails/calls from FCC Paragon so I emailed them to try and hurry them up. I then got this email back from my agent:
"In reply, we charge £57.50 inclusive of VAT per reference and so if we need to reply for two people, you will need to post to us a cheque for £115.00."

Is this legal?? It doesn;t say anything about this in my contract.

Can anyone help me please?
Thanks!!

tbs624

mmm_cake wrote: »

....My current agent hasn't replied to any emails/calls from FCC Paragon so I emailed them to try and hurry them up. I then got this email back from my agent:
"In reply, we charge £57.50 inclusive of VAT per reference and so if we need to reply for two people, you will need to post to us a cheque for £115.00."

Is this legal?? It doesn;t say anything about this in my contract.

It presumably also won't say anything in your contract about the LL being obliged to provide you with a reference when you leave.. Yes, it's legal,for him/her to charge for their time although many would view that figure as extortionate: generally, a LL tends to get asked whether a T has paid the rent on time and whether s/he looked after the property. *Talk* to your new LA/LL.