Rental contract renewal - checkout fee added

LilJohn

Hi,

Just got to review my new rental contract (have rented the same placed for the last two years), and it now has a 'checkout fee' of £100 + VAT added into the contract.
Is it worth discussing this and trying to get it removed or should I presume I've no standing in the matter.

The flat is essentially unfurnished so I guess all they'll be doing is checking for a few fixtures so £100 seems a bit cheap, especially as it is newly added. Only got the contract a couple of days ago and tenancy is up at the end of the month.. :mad:

BitterAndTwisted

It's a contract and therefore a two-way street. You can't be compelled to agree to terms which you don't agree with. Having said that a check-out inventory charge isn't unusual: generally the landlord would pay for the check-in and the outgoing tenant the outgoing one. For an unfurnished property £100 sounds a bit on the hefty side as it would probably take all of fifteen minutes. Have you asked why they are seeking to impose this charge when your previous contract had no mention of it?

Note that the check-out won't just be checking for a few fixtures, they'll be examining for damage to all of the paint-work as well as the cleanliness.

This is all assuming that you signed a check-in inventory when you moved into the property in the first place.

LilJohn

Not had a chance to discuss it yet. We did have a check in inventory with all of 18 things on it (e.g. light fixtures, central heating carpet in x rooms, tiles in y rooms, cooker, fridge-freezer.) I've seen it suggested in one of the other threads that these have become more common as a cynical way to get extra money now it isn't easy to extract money from deposit for spurious charges.

BitterAndTwisted

Look at it this way: it could be a very valuable document to prevent tenants from being landed with spurious deductions because there's documentary evidence of the condition of the property and its contents at the start of their tenancy. If you don't agree with the check-in inventory you are entitled to amend it or not sign it at all.

Please don't forget that tenants can and do get charged for dirt and damage because they do not return properties in the same state as at the beginning of the tenancy. That is only fair.

casper_g

To me it seems like a bit of a scam making tenants pay to sign up for a new fixed term every 6-12 months. Using it as an opportunity to introduce more spurious charges that weren't made clear to you before you moved in is just taking the p**s! If you want the security of a new fixed term, say you'll sign it if the extra charge is removed. If you don't mind a rolling month-to-month contract tell the landlord you'd prefer that, and see what they say.

BitterAndTwisted

There is a possibility that they might say "Here's your Section 21!"