Renting from private landlord, just received this - is it legal?

TheLittlestCupcake

I just received this letter in the post from my landlord. I'm looking for some advice as to whether all the changes highlighted in the letter were legal.


Dear Tenant,
I am writing to you to inform you that as of January 2011 there will be a number of chargeable fees for unauthorised late payment of rent. These fees are standard and fixed to the amounts set out in the table below; (these fees are for your information only and only apply to the unauthorised late payment of rent)

Letter fees - £18 per letter - £9 for letter received
Phone call fees - £4 per call (received or missed) - £2 per related calls received
Text message/email fees - £2 per message sent - £1 per related message sent
Late payment fee - £26 per transaction
Interest rate set at (%) - 10% per annum

Other additional fees for your information and to consider are listed below and apply to all tenants after the date of this letter;

Failure to be in for a prearranged appointment (including contractors) - £30
Hourly labour rate for work carried out to property due to neglect/damage - £30
Administration fee for the renewal of a shorthold tenancy agreement - £26



I've never heard of landlords charging you to send them an email if your rent is late. Is this all normal and within the boundries of the law? I'm a first-time tenant and I find this all quite intimidating.

BitterAndTwisted

All of those charges are unreasonable and unenforceable. The only way to avoid a fight in court over them is to ensure the rent is always paid in full and on time. I suspect that intimidation is exactly what that letter is all about. I'd chuck it in the bin where it belongs and forget about it

poppysarah

Sounds like they are extracting the urine to me.

Send them one back

"Charge for reading outrageous missive from you: £1000.
Further correspondance deemed to be acceptance of these terms"

shellsuit

poppysarah wrote: »

Sounds like they are extracting the urine to me.

Send them one back

"Charge for reading outrageous missive from you: £1000.
Further correspondance deemed to be acceptance of these terms"

Haha, Yes, do this!! :T:rotfl:

CloudCuckooLand

I'd look to move on at the end of the tenancy. You don't know what else such shysters will try.

Blackpool_Saver

This is a private individual ?????? lovely ! I would keep that letter safely and look for a new home, sorry.

Pinner_Ram

"banker", of course.

This is just like the banks, but you can't fault the underlying principle.

If you pay your rent on time, each month, this will not be an issue for you.

Moral - Fund your bank account properly (I am paid on the last working day of each month and pay my rent on the 1st day of the following month).

If, for any reason, you find you are unable to pay the rent, speak to the landlord / agent asap and make sure the same day you send them an email to confirm what has been said so you have an audit trail.

PR

IronWolf

Id go outside, wipe it in dog crap and mail it back to him.

theartfullodger

All charges other than rent are unfair and unenforceable.

However keep it as evidence of harassment by a stupid & ignorant landlord.

If he thinks those are reasonable expect more daft requests.

Cheers

Artful (Landlord )

sexki11en

Interesting. I'd never seen that before (and i've rented now for 15 years) We're about to sign an agreement with a letting agency. The below is an extract from their T's and C's

22. Any additional costs I need to be aware of (if we are managing the property)? There is a charge of £50 (plus VAT) if you lock yourself out of your property and we attend with the management keys to gain you entry.

If you are unable to be present when a contractor needs to attend the property and you wish for them to be accompanied by a member of our staff, there is a charge of £50 (plus VAT) per hour – minimum charge is £50 plus VAT.

If an appointment is booked in agreement with you and you fail to be present (when reasonable prior notice of cancellation has not been received from you), a cancellation fee of £50 (plus VAT) will be charged.

If we are called to the property for a fault/issue which you should reasonably have resolved by following the instructions given (by way of instruction manual or otherwise), or where there is no fault/ issue found by us, or the fault/issue is determined to have occurred by your actions (e.g. a faulty electrical appliance belonging to you causing the electrics to cut out), a fee of £50 (plus VAT) will be charged.

If we need to send a contractor to the property for a fault/issue which you should reasonably have resolved by following the instructions given (by way of instruction manual or otherwise), or where there is no fault/ issue found by the contractor, or the fault/issue is determined to have occurred by your actions (e.g. a faulty electrical appliance belonging to you causing the electrics to cut out), then the contractors fee will be payable in full
by you.

Cheques returned to us unpaid will incur a charge of £50 (plus VAT).


Is ANY of this enforcable? I am absolutely not happy to pay £50 if I can't get a day off work to let them into the property! That's what the LL is paying the fees for surely?!

Can anyone advise, we're due to return this paperwork tomorrow and have already paid £550 holding deposit to take the property off the market.

SK x

bandofbrothers

just dont agree to an appointment that is not acceptable or reasonable.

If you work then agree to an appointment for when you will be home from your place of work.

I would write a letter and send it along with them contract stipulating that you work full time and as such daytime appointment requests would not be reasonable, and that any appointment agreed in the evening and not attended by the LL will incur a fee of £50 from them to you !