Land Agents fees

Londonsu

When we decided to put our leasehold Flat on the market we contacted the land agents ( one ones we paid the ground rent to) to look at extending the lease. Although we had to pay the landlord a hefty 'marriage value' we decided not to go down the LVT as it takes 2 years and we wanted to move quickly.

First of all they tried to charge us £50 plus vat just to contact the surveyor
as we had already done this we asked them to give us a breakdown of the £50
but had no reply

Once we agreed the marriage value we were contacted by the Landlords Sltr
who gave us his fees for extending the lease - he also said there would be a fee payable to the land agents of £250 ( no VAT )

At the time we instructed our Sltr to give an undertaking to pay the landlords Sltr his disgraceful charges but NOT the £250 for the land agent

We are about to exchange contracts and will be paying the Landlord his £ of flesh, but I dont want to pay the land agents anything until I get a breakdown and proof that these fees are legal

Does anyone know what this charge might be for

Fire_Fox

What does your conveyancing solicitor say?

Londonsu

Fire_Fox wrote: »

What does your conveyancing solicitor say?

He says to quietly ignore it he has not on our instructions giving an undertaking to pay it and hopes when all the money is passed around the Landlords solicitor wont mention it

Fire_Fox

In that case I am not really sure what you want us to add?

seabright

Sadly this is pretty common, these type of fees have really jumped over the past 2 years - I'm a conveyancing lawyer and see it a lot.

Sadly, if you want to do the deal you have to pay the fees. They're often called Administration Fees or Management Fees. You can try and negotiate, but don't hold your breath.

Your lease will contain a clause saying you are liable for all fees and charges incurred by the landlord in connection with the property, if you don't pay the land agent now, when you come to sell they'll ask for the funds then and your buyer won't complete until it's all paid.

Sorry not to have better news for you, to be honest, I'd just bite the bullet, pay and move on.

Londonsu

Fire_Fox wrote: »

In that case I am not really sure what you want us to add?

My Sltr hasnt told me they are not legally entitled to this fee only to ignore it for now and in his words ( they are being greedy ) but when we exchange contracts I want have have some sort of ammunition if they come running for their cut also when we move I will not be using the Sltr and want to deal with these jokers my self - for instance if they want to charge fees for doing nothing does this come after the Fraud act, if they are charging fees that the landlords Sltr would normally pay - can we tell them to get the money for them as we have paid all the Sltr costs ( nearly 3 grand) for extending the lease - To tell the truth my sltr is a bit of a wet blanket and seems scared of the landlords sltr

Fire_Fox

Londonsu wrote: »

My Sltr hasnt told me they are not legally entitled to this fee only to ignore it for now and in his words ( they are being greedy ) but when we exchange contracts I want have have some sort of ammunition if they come running for their cut also when we move I will not be using the Sltr and want to deal with these jokers my self - for instance if they want to charge fees for doing nothing does this come after the Fraud act, if they are charging fees that the landlords Sltr would normally pay - can we tell them to get the money for them as we have paid all the Sltr costs ( nearly 3 grand) for extending the lease - To tell the truth my sltr is a bit of a wet blanket and seems scared of the landlords sltr

Maybe your solicitor has a healthy respect for the legal process? Maybe you need another solicitor? What do you want a bunch of strangers on a forum to add? Are you going to quote us at the freeholder's solicitor? I'm sure he will be quaking in his boots. :rolleyes: Have you formally requested a breakdown of what this charge is composed of BEFORE you start making allegations of fraud?

When you sell the property any monies owed to the landlord or freeholder will be revealed, your buyer's solicitor may advise her clients not to exchange or complete until any debts or arrears have been cleared, since the responsibility for paying them rests with the leaseholder. If you were not aware of the LVT route I would have some sympathy with you but you made a conscious decision not to exercise that right. As a direct result, the freeholder has you over a barrel: stop whinging and chalk it up to experience.

Londonsu

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Maybe your solicitor has a healthy respect for the legal process? Maybe you need another solicitor? What do you want a bunch of strangers on a forum to add? Are you going to quote us at the freeholder's solicitor? I'm sure he will be quaking in his boots. :rolleyes: Have you formally requested a breakdown of what this charge is composed of BEFORE you start making allegations of fraud?

When you sell the property any monies owed to the landlord or freeholder will be revealed, your buyer's solicitor may advise her clients not to exchange or complete until any debts or arrears have been cleared, since the responsibility for paying them rests with the leaseholder. If you were not aware of the LVT route I would have some sympathy with you but you made a conscious decision not to exercise that right. As a direct result, the freeholder has you over a barrel: stop whinging and chalk it up to experience.

Well thanks Firefox for your help

I came on this forum for a bit of help - you know someone who has had this
problem and how they had dealt with it, what law says they can charge this, how I get a breakdown of their so called fees what type of thing to ask my Sltr you know HELPFULL advise

If the only advise I am going to get is pay up or shut up . if the only people who can help me are people who are quite happy to pay someone £250 just because they ask for it then what is the point of people asking for help

Fire_Fox

Londonsu wrote: »

When we decided to put our leasehold Flat on the market we contacted the land agents ( one ones we paid the ground rent to) to look at extending the lease. Although we had to pay the landlord a hefty 'marriage value' we decided not to go down the LVT as it takes 2 years and we wanted to move quickly.

At the time we instructed our Sltr to give an undertaking to pay the landlords Sltr his disgraceful charges but NOT the £250 for the land agent

We are about to exchange contracts and will be paying the Landlord his £ of flesh, but I dont want to pay the land agents anything until I get a breakdown and proof that these fees are legal

Does anyone know what this charge might be for

Londonsu wrote: »

My Sltr hasnt told me they are not legally entitled to this fee only to ignore it for now and in his words ( they are being greedy ) but when we exchange contracts I want have have some sort of ammunition if they come running for their cut also when we move I will not be using the Sltr and want to deal with these jokers my self - for instance if they want to charge fees for doing nothing does this come after the Fraud act, if they are charging fees that the landlords Sltr would normally pay - can we tell them to get the money for them as we have paid all the Sltr costs ( nearly 3 grand) for extending the lease - To tell the truth my sltr is a bit of a wet blanket and seems scared of the landlords sltr

Londonsu wrote: »

Well thanks Firefox for your help

I came on this forum for a bit of help - you know someone who has had this
problem and how they had dealt with it, what law says they can charge this, how I get a breakdown of their so called fees what type of thing to ask my Sltr you know HELPFULL advise

If the only advise I am going to get is pay up or shut up . if the only people who can help me are people who are quite happy to pay someone £250 just because they ask for it then what is the point of people asking for help

You will get helpful advice from this board if you post asking genuine questions instead of making snidey jibes about your landlord, your solicitor and the landlord's solicitor in turn (see bold). :rolleyes:

pete1717

Londonsu wrote: »

Well thanks Firefox for your help

I came on this forum for a bit of help - you know someone who has had this
problem and how they had dealt with it, what law says they can charge this, how I get a breakdown of their so called fees what type of thing to ask my Sltr you know HELPFULL advise

If the only advise I am going to get is pay up or shut up . if the only people who can help me are people who are quite happy to pay someone £250 just because they ask for it then what is the point of people asking for help

Unfortunately what everyone else has told you is correct and you will very likely have to pay the fees.

I dealt with one recently where the client had to pay almost £400 for the pre-assignment pack from their Management Company. A further surprise came later from the Freeholders' solicitors who charged £685.00 for approving a Licence to Assign - this is the most expensive I have come across yet but unfortunately had to be paid for the sale to progress.

As unfair as it seems, as a previous poster said, they have you over a barrel - quibbling the fees will only delay your sale.

Londonsu

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You will get helpful advice from this board if you post asking genuine questions instead of making snidey jibes about your landlord, your solicitor and the landlord's solicitor in turn (see bold). :rolleyes:

Sorry I didnt realise you were a solicitor, landagent or what ever anyhow I have got better advise from a forum used to dealing with money grubbing organisations


And I am sorry why are these people immune to snidey jibes - free speech mate

But thanks shant be using this forum again