extortionate check-out fee on rental

Myrtle77

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

It's quite normal for the outgoing tenant to be charged a check-out fee if they haven't paid for the check-in. That £114 fee is quite steep but if they're going to contract an outside party they will most probably be charging some kind of mark-up on it.

There was a check-in fee. They charge both. They'll take money off you at any opportunity it seems.

And yes, it was a 6 month contract initially. Thanks for all responses so far.

sharpee

The LA in my area when I last moved house charge £120 check out fee! Although they don't list the cost in the contract it does state tenant will pay the fee.

I feel your pain and agree it is scandalous.

Is there anyway of reducing check out fees does anyone know?

westv

There was no fee with my last tenancy. Not sure about this one - I'll check. What exactly does this fee go towards - apart from the LA's profits?

Edit: Just checked current agreement. No fee unless tenant requests a checkout prior to the end of the agreed tenancy.

Myrtle77

westv wrote: »

There was no fee with my last tenancy. Not sure about this one - I'll check. What exactly does this fee go towards - apart from the LA's profits?

So far as I can tell, it's just to pay for the 3rd party to come in and check the condition/contents of the house against the inventory.

Had a look at the checkout fee of some other local agencies, and they're around £35. Huuuge difference!

ifonlyitwaseasier

Myrtle77 wrote: »

There was a check-in fee. They charge both. They'll take money off you at any opportunity it seems.

And yes, it was a 6 month contract initially. Thanks for all responses so far.

then they need to give 2 months notice anyway, with it ending on the day before rent would be due.

Myrtle77

ifonlyitwaseasier wrote: »

then they need to give 2 months notice anyway, with it ending on the day before rent would be due.

They have done. Sadly it doesn't change the fact that they're charging me an extortionate fee for vacating a house that I don't want to vacate.

BitterAndTwisted

If you have already paid for the check-in then it would be reasonable to expect your landlord to pay for the check-out as there will be no incoming tenant after you've vacated. In the normal course of events when a tenant leaves a property there is only one walk-round by the inventory clerk, not two. There is no sensible reason for making two charges: one for the outgoing tenant and another for the new one coming in as nothing should have changed between the two events.

Contest the deduction for the check-out from my your deposit if you have documentary evidence that you have been charged for the check-in. I am certain that they won't get away with it.

tyler80

I'm never quite sure why check out fees should be the tenant's responsibility anyway, your contract is with the landlord. So if he wants the agency to do a check out surely he needs to pay?

BornAtTheRightTime

As a check-out fee is not considered a suitable deduction from a deposit I suggest the OP contests the deduction after moving out. OP will win. Your Move will then have to issue a claim against the OP for the check-out fee. It is unlikely they'll go to the trouble but should they do so, the OP has several good arguments on his side:

OP can argue that he already paid the check-in fee and therefore shouldn't pay a check-out.
Should OP not win that argument he can go on to challenge the legaility of the charge on the basis that he was not informed of the cost before signing the tenancy agreement.
Should OP not win that argument he can challenge the amount of the charge and state that he is willing to pay the same as the other local agents charge.