Landlord Reference

MSNewbie_2

Hi all,

I am quite new here and from my search, couldn't find an answer to my situation so creating a new thread. Apologies if it has been answered before.

I have been a good tenant for last 2 years with the same landlord, with no issues at all. Now, I am relocating due to job and as I leave; I have provided my landlord a month's notice which has been happily agreed. However, I was told by my landlord on phone 'You have been a good tenant and I charge £25.00 for reference which your new landlord might ask for. Many landlords take up to £100.00 but I charge quite generous.'

Now, as expected; my new landlord wants to contact my previous landlord for reference and I do not feel like paying £25.00 for reference. This seems like daylight robbery to me. Correct me if I am wrong please, but I am holding only because of the matter that this is not right.

Any thoughts & suggestions, much appreciated.

Regards,

clutton_2

As a LL if i ask a housing association for a reference for one of their ex tenants who applies to me for a property .. they want £69.00+ VAT !!!

moromir

Your previous Landlord is under no obligation to give your new Landlord a reference for you.

His fee does seem a little cheeky but he may take the opinion (does he have a portfolio of property that he lets?) that this is a reasonable administration charge for preparing and sending a letter or answering your new Landlord's queries, especially if he has a lot of properties and sending references is something that takes him time.

How badly do you want the reference? Will the new Landlord proceed without one?

MSNewbie_2

I mentioned to my new landlord that I am keen to provide the reference but not happy to pay money for someone taking a phone call to say I lived in their property. I have provided him everything else and I have a very clean and fair profile. He insists I pay and get him the contact details.

My old landlord has several properties and apparently they would only be answering a phone call to say I lived in their property. Even if they do have several properties, referencing someone is something that must be part of some agreement as otherwise good tenants end up paying unfair fees. They could have asked my £100.00 as they said, and where would that have left me.

The matter is not of £25.00 but this practice being totally unfair.

moromir

MSNewbie wrote: »

referencing someone is something that must be part of some agreement as otherwise good tenants end up paying unfair fees.

As I said before, the Landlord is not under any obligation to give you a reference (unless you have it in writing from him that he has previously agreed to do the reference and there was no mention of a charge).

BitterAndTwisted

In the great scheme of things £25 isn't that great a sum. Most landlords will want a reference so there's no getting round it unless you want to muck about trying to find a landlord who won't need a reference and to my mind those are the landlords you probably wouldn't want to rent from in the first place. Just pay it.

MSNewbie_2

As I said, it's not a matter of £25.00 but an unfair practice. Unless someone points it out, it never seems to come under scrutiny. I know I would ultimately have to pay as I am running out of time and moving in the next few days. However, I do feel a lump that I am paying someone for being wrong and don;t know how many tenants have and will pay the same in future.

phlash

I think it is a reasonable sum for a reference.

Imagine a letting agency with 100 properties averaging at 9 month lets. That's 133 references if every tenant needed a reference.

That's 1 in 2 working days that a reference needs writing, which is not for the purpose of the letting agent's business. Of course he/she should charge for it, he/she would be mad not to.

So if it makes sense in the case of a lettings agent, it can be viewed that a Landlord is a mini agent, requiring income for their work.

This should be seen as a bonus if you don't get charged rather than a penalty if you do.

MoneySavingUser

moromir wrote: »

As I said before, the Landlord is not under any obligation to give you a reference (unless you have it in writing from him that he has previously agreed to do the reference and there was no mention of a charge).

I agree with this - unfortunately you need the reference - just be happy he is only charging £25!

MSNewbie_2

Now I feel all right, that I understand the charge better. Thanks for your help everyone!

tbs624

The LL does have the right to charge a reasonable sum for his time. Most references from previous LLs cover questions along the lines of "has this T paid their rent on time" , "has this T looked after your property", has this T breached any part of his tenancy terms" , "would you recommend this tenant".

Your LL is not obliged to give you a reference, but most private LLs will happily do so FOC for those who have been "good" Ts. See if he will negotiate further - tell him that you are happy to be contacted by any future potential Ts who would like confirmation of what a fantastic LL he is: quid pro quo