Letting agent charging for inspection

sarah-b8

Hi,

I am after a bit of advice. My husband and I have been renting our flat for about 9 months. Every three months out letting agent comes to do an inspection of the property which we dont have a problem with.

The issue I have is that they charge us £40 every time they come to do the inspection. The reaction I have had from other people I know is this is not common practice and that I shouldnt be paying this fee. However when I queried it with them I was advised that it was written in our contract that this charge would apply (I still need to check the paperwork to confirm this).

Should I be being charged for this inspection if they are doing it on the request of the landlord then shouldnt he be paying?
If it is written into my contract am I totally bound or would I be able to argue that this should not be something I pay for.

Any advice would be greatly received.

Many Thanks
Sarah

G_M

1) no - not usual practice
2) 3 monthly inspections are very frequent - probobly simply as a means of income generation!
3) whatever your contract says, you can refuse access for inspections - you are entitled to 'quiet enjoyment' of the property under your contract = no uneccessary disturbance.

Negotiate! Say you will happily agree to the inspections if they want but NOT the charges. If they refuse to this, then refuse ALL inspections (and put this in writing so a) you have a record and b) they cannot deny you told them this)

If you suspect after that they might just 'come round' with a key, do the inspection, and send you a bill, change the barrel of the lock so they can't get in wihout your permission. Keep the old barrel to replace when you leave.

Does your Landlord even know 'his' agent is making money out of you in this way? maybe phone and ask? And certainly if the agents won't compromise your letter about access should be sent to the LL and only cc'd to the agent. Your contract is with the LL.

ps - as a landlord, I would probobly do an initial inspection after 3 months (more to make sure the tenants are happy and no repairs are needed than to 'check up on them'.). Then maybe 6 monthly or annually after that unless they called me about a specific problem.

AnnaV

No advice on legality but I've never heard of it either.

BitterAndTwisted

It's a ruddy outrage! I'd bet a fiver that these complete shysters are charging the landlord for the inspections as well.

When you write to the agents about them ensure you copy in the landlord on the correspondence as well, so they know that both of you are being charged. I wouldn't stand for it and I don't see why you should either.

CloudCuckooLand

People still not reading what they sign, after decades of consumer empowerment, That's Life, Watchdog and all...Esther Rantzen and Anne Robinson must be wondering why they bothered...

Okay, it may well be unenforceable, but that's a cop-out, really.

Gwhiz

I'd tell the agent go to f*** themselves! Totally outrageous

bargainbunny

i have 3 monthly inspections.. is a nightmare
but never been charged for it.

poppysarah

It's an unfair term.

Refuse to pay.
Move.

Aquatronixjenny

We have 3 monthly inspections but the landlord pays, not us. I have never heard of tenants having to pay for inspections!

You need to double check your paperwork and then have a chat with your LL to see if he is aware you are being charged.

sarah-b8

Thank you all for you help and advice.

The first thing I will be doing when I get home is digging out our agreement and reading it fully. I know its a cardinal sin not to have read it properly but it really isnt something that I thought I would have to look out for! And when you are sitting in the office 5 minutes before they close for the day they dont really give you much chance to go through things with a fine tooth comb. All I can say is I have well and truely learnt my lesson!

Once I have had a good look through the agreement I will have to speak to them and find out why it costs £40 a time especially considering nothing has happened with the issues that came up at the last inspection!

Sarah

Annisele

I don't think it matters why it costs £40 a time - I wouldn't give them an opening to try and justify themselves!