Having inventory check in this evening - LA wanting to charge us sign up fee?

holbob

This evening my partner and I are moving into a new rental property. We did the usual with the LA, paid admin fee for credit checks (actually it's the same LA as we currently are renting off). They gave us a discount on this fee as we are currently with them. There was no indication of any further fees on the initial forms we signed.

We hadn't heard from them since being told when the check in would be several weeks ago, so my partner contacted them yesterday and they told us relevant documentation had been sent to our previous address 10 days ago. We left our previous address on Saturday and it wasn't there then, so they e-mailed us a copy of the relevant documents late yesterday afternoon. In the fees section they list first months rent, deposit (£5 more than they previously mentioned ) and a £125 "sign up fee". This is the first time we have seen this sign up fee, we have certainly not signed any forms with it listed on it. I have never heard of a letting agent charging an extra fee actually AT the check in either. Are we within our rights to refuse to pay this fee, pointing out when we signed the credit check forms it was not listed? Or is the only likely thing to happen would be they refuse to give us the keys.

Mouseman

as a vague stab in the dark, I may suggest that that is the cost of the check in/inventory taking process and the landlord's told them to pass that fee on to you.

At the very least, query it and say that this has not been mentioned before and that' you've already paid your admin fees. Have you signed the actual AST yet? If so, just take posession of the property and they can argue the case in court if they want. If this upsets them +/ the landlord though, expect to be leaving at the end of the fixed term!

A real bu.gger and I feel for you. We've just had a fortnight of troubles and misunderstandings surrounding leaving a property and it's a stressful experience, especially when you don't know where you stand.

Get onto LA now and ask them to clarify what this charge is, why it's YOUR charge and why this hasn't been mentioned before. Good luck!

holbob

Thanks for the advice, will wait until the actual check in before quering. Will assume I don't have to pay until told otherwise! Hopefully as it's a late evening check in they might not want the hassle....... We have all night

G_M

I doubt the LL has asked the aget to pass the fee on. It's possible but I bet the agent is charging the LL too!

I would keep quiet, act innocent/ignorant and then when you are signing the contract just act surprised and refuse to pay. LL would be pretty p*ss*d off to lose rent if agent does not back down.

If you have the LL's name you could try speaking direct about it as an alternative approach.