Estate agent fees for renting

1978carter

My girlfriend and I are looking to rent together pretty soon and as I had never rented before I was amazed to find out that all the estate agents I rang wanted up to £150 per person to do credit checks on us both.

Ok I can understand and have no problem with them taking a deposit but surely this is just another way for them to make more money out me especially when I can get a copy of my credit file for £2.

Is there anyway round paying these fees or do people know of agencies that don't charge ridiculous high fees?

Cheers

verbyl.belch

Just had a quick look and my gf and I had to pay £200 in agency fees for our current rental house (in total). We spent the day looking at properties with a whole selction of Bedford's finest LA and most fees were around this £200 mark. One LA wanted £250 each, we told them where to get off.

Not much you can do though, especially if after a day of viewing 'holes' you finally find a great property, the phrase "over a barrel" comes to mind. You're stuck with them. Although, if it has been a slow week/month for the LA you may be able to negotiate a bit. No harm in asking, giving it a go.

HTH

Cookie124

We've got charged £150 as well, seems expensive, but I dont think there's much you can do about it. For ours we've just put my name down on the agreement then we only have to pay one set of fees.

1978carter

I thought about doing that (just putting my name down for the agreement) to save money but also as my GF probably doesn't have the best credit rating as she has been self employed for a few years.

Does anyone know the possible legal implications of doing this should they find out both of us are living there?

PasturesNew

They charge VAT on top of that too ...
I paid £176.25 for one person two years ago, £150+VAT

estelle123

I payed a one off fee of 60.00,and have the most helpfull LA.I refuse to pay LAs fees and had no differculty finding a house.

bitsandpieces

LA fees vary (you may find a free one) and private landlords generally don't charge. Annoying to pay these fees but, to be honest, so long LAs can get away with making an extra couple of hundred quid per letting you can see why they do so

If a place carries a LA fee for credit checks etc., I'd just add it on to the total rent in the first year (or 6 months) and see how costs compare to places with no fee.

Cookie124

I dont think there is a legal problem with only putting one name down. Our LA's knew we were renting it out as a couple and were perfectly fine with just my details on the form - infact there was only space for one persons details. The only issue is if they think you dont earn enough on your own to pay the rent. Also if it was soley in your name you'd be totally liable for the rent/any damage caused.

Debt_Free_Chick

Are you sure it's £150 just for a credit check? Is it an application fee, which includes all the relevant references in addition to the credit check?

Regshoe

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

Are you sure it's £150 just for a credit check? Is it an application fee, which includes all the relevant references in addition to the credit check?

You mean faxing/ringing your work and sending a form letter to your bank? At least that's what ours was in addition to the credit reference. As somebody who used to work within the credit industry I know that the £125 each we paid was money for nothing, but as others have said there isn't much you can do.

You can try to shop around, but that doesn't really work as you have to take the LA associated with whichever property you like.

As to the OPs question - you can have you as the Tenant (i.e. you solely are liable for the rent and only you are referenced.) Your gf would be down as an "allowed person" (I believe that's the term) who is allowed to live there but not liable for anything (in the same way that children would be). I'm not sure of the implications if she pays part of the rent (whether it would count as subletting), presumably if you said from the start that she would paying a part but you take full responsibility and are credit worthy for the whole rent then there shouldn't be a problem.

Debt_Free_Chick

Regshoe wrote: »

You mean faxing/ringing your work and sending a form letter to your bank?

And your employer and your previous LL or any other referee ... and reviewing the responses and then taking any further action.

When you consider the time taken by the staff and the overheads inherent in employing them, it's actually not an "outrageous" fee.

Regards