Trying to rent - OMG Agency Fees!!

Jowo_2

silversnaffles wrote: »

Most places are asking for £400 a month without any bills included so that ends up pushing my monthly bills to nearer £600.

It is completely standard for rental accommodation for self-contained properties to include no bills whatsover.

Since it is the norm for tenants to arrange and pay for their own utilities and telecoms/broadband with their preferred suppliers, why are you aghast?

estelle123

When i rented last year i paid 1month deposit,1 month rent and 60.00 agent fees.Refused to pay 200.00 with the other agents,money for old rope if you ask me.

new_home_owner_3

estelle123 wrote: »

When i rented last year i paid 1month deposit,1 month rent and 60.00 agent fees.Refused to pay 200.00 with the other agents,money for old rope if you ask me.

Thats what i charged my tenants and i gave them the £60 fee back, i asked them for the 60 pound for me to do tenant checks.

Agents are a rip off, thats my opinion.

elvis86

new_home_owner wrote: »

Thats what i charged my tenants and i gave them the £60 fee back, i asked them for the 60 pound for me to do tenant checks.

Agents are a rip off, thats my opinion.

Wish I could find a landlord like you! Unfortunately in the area I want to live (Manchester, Salford Quays), all the properties are apartments (which in itself isn't a problem, I love mine!) owned by landlords from all over the place who buy them purely as investments and pay agents to let them. Nigh on impossible to find one let by a landlord direct.:(

vixarooni

sequence wrote: »

Yes, renting is an absolute rip off in this country, and you can expect to receive a poor service as well as being treated as though you are a nuisance to the landlord rather than a paying customer.

God that is so true!!!!!!!!!!!

moneysavingmonkey85

Yes that seems very normal OP, it was a bit of a shock for me the first time. I had to have double deposit and guarantor the first time too - about £2k on move in day. If you want to connect a landline BT will charge £125, council tax is massive (well it is in the south east anyway), and lots of other costs.

If you can, try to go private as landlords can often be more reliable and interested than agents - i've rented 4 places since uni and only found 1 decent agent. On move in day, I would say take photos and detailed inventory to protect that deposit. Wishing you well though, independence from parents is worth quite a lot too!

silversnaffles

Sorry only just got round to reading this, thanks for all your views!
I am inexperienced when it comes to letting, but I'm not a nignog My parents have bought and sold smallholdings for years.
No I accept the 1 months rent in advance and the bond, I just think that asking for that amount in agency fees is daylight robbery. I think I may be better off over stretching and trying to buy and then at least have something to show for being skint!!
Thanks again everyone

snapping_crocodile

But have you considered all the fees involved in buying eg surveys and solicitors fees?....they're not exactly cheap either :rotfl:

rentinginlondon

I have used Gumtree for years, however the past few years I try not to use it.

A lot of scams are associated with the gumtree....i am out of the country but wire me the money as a deposit so I know you are serious and I will come and show you the place....and you never hear from them again!

A women was murdered after meeting someone in the dating section of the gumtree last year in London (she lived a few minutes from me) and a number of people have been stabbed etc when they go to collect and pay for a car that was advertised on gumtree. Some of these people even took friends with them and they still got into trouble with the "buyers" and hurt.

My advice - stay away from gumtree if possible!!!!:mad: it makes me mad as ebay (that's who owns it now) could make it a safer place, but they care only for the money

silversnaffles

Yes but at least you have something to show for it then...i.e a house!!
But hey ho, I am still looking fingers crossed the right place will come up.
I've never used Gumtree but it's like any of these things I suppose - use with caution.
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