Have a been ripped off?

ChinUp_2

I am new to the rental market and after finding a house that I was happy with I filled in the application form and paid the £180 fee which secures the application and is the fee for the agent to do the credit checks. OK, I had been told this by all agents I'd been to and so it seemed to be the norm.
When viewing the property I asked the agent to confirm that the fee was for the 2 of us (myself and my boyfriend who I will be moving in with). I was told it would be one fee for the both of us if we were married (which I am not), or if we are already living together and can prove this by providing a bill or silimar with both our names on it (I couldn't as I live on my own and he lives with parents). I was told that I have no choice but to pay the £180 fee each as we both need to be credit checked as separate people.
I payed the fees and am now wondering whether this was true and a requirement of the credit agency they use or whether the agent saw a chance to rip me off? :mad:
I know a friend had to pay £180 each with a different agent so thought it was something I would just have to accept. What have you experienced, is it common with all agents?
Thanks

Ankatden

Think agent is having a laugh.

Demand a copy of their terms and conditions and indicate your intention to speak with Trading Standards as they are actively discriminating against single people.

ChinUp_2

They take advantage in whatever way they can and it seems we have no choice if we want the house....
any other opinions/advice out there??

Lily1

My son and his girlfriend have just moved into a flat in Reading and had to pay £400 for the checks. Once this was paid the agent would not help with any problems as they were not paid to 'manage' the property! I think the rental business is very badly regulated.

clutton_2

""actively discriminating against single people. "

dont be daft.....

LLs need to credit-check and reference each individual whether they are single married or divorced - there is no discrimination here

You are using an agent who can charge what the market will bear.... if you dont like that fee... go to another agent.

Svenena

I think it would have been more discriminating against single people if they'd given a discount to them for being a couple. They have to do checks on both people, so they have to charge them both.

I'm often surprised by the rates charged for these checks that I see on these boards. I've used several different agents and never paid more than around £60. It is normal though to also pay a holding deposit in addition to this (usually around £100), but this is added to the main deposit, so I don't see it as a fee. They only retain it if you pull out for some reason.

ChinUp_2

Thanks guys, I thought it would be a case of they can charge what they want. If you want the house then you have no choice to but to stay with the agent and pay the fees.

chucknorris

I'm a private landlord and offer my potential tenants when they say they want to take the property either to provide me with a copy of their passport or driving license, last 3 bank statements and last 3 pay slips OR if they consider that info too private they can pay for the NLA's credit check for £23 each.

When I used to live in the same neighbourhood as my properties they could simply pop over to my home and show me their originals, however as I now live in Dorking (properties in London) they have to send copies. I didn't use to ask for so much iinformation, but I was scammed by a tenant with fake payslips, so now I want to see the payslip AND cross check it as an incoming credit on their bank statement.

lee636

When we started we paid £75 for both of us, this covered admin charges and the two credit checks.