Insisting on 6 Months Up Front..it it Legal?

100rotor

Hi

Can a letting agency insist on 6 months up front ?,we passed the credit check but the agent says they need it as we are expats !

The agent also insist on 150 pounds per adult for the credit check,it only costs 15 quid, Google "rentwisetv co uk " plus 75 pound per pet to "add a pet clause"

Plus a contract fee of 225 pounds plus over 1k deposit !!! :mad:

Weve never rented before ,dose all this seem normal.?

Benji

Perfectly legal, and not that uncommon. Doesn't stop you trying to negotiate though.

The references for example will cost them no more than £50 each - and that is for the really indepth nes, some agents pay £10-£15.

Adding the clause involves 2 minutes typing. They will already have the appropriate wording on file. Say £5 secrtarial time.

They want £225 to write a contract (well £300 if you include the pet clause). This is a standard word template that they type your details, the landlords details and the properties details into. Total production time, 20 minutes if you include a coffee break!

The fees they are quoting are high, but are market driven. I suspect you will find other agents in the area charge different amounts - but they don't have the property you want.

Agents do have costs, and have to make a profit, but my idea of fair fees would be: £50 each for credit check and £100 for contract (including free pet section (cat claws!)).

crazyguy

Or go elswhere, a private landlord would be far cheaper !

G_M

Perfectly legal - but negotiate hard.

Bear in mind they are also charging the landlord for getting you signed up. And for the contract.....

EAs are unregulated and many have no training, no professional backing, and few morals. You could start making money as an EA yourself tomorrow with just an ad or two in the paper!

Unfortunately your only real bargaining chip is your willingness to walk away and find another property/agent/landlord.

PasturesNew

Legal ... it's legalised robbery. It's disgraceful, but your costs don't look out of the ordinary.

Also check for/expect: renewal fees to sign a new agreement for each new AST, check out fees.... and any fee they can pluck from the air. Get a written list of their fees now.

vyvyan_2

All replies seconded... sadly, all sounds normal to me.

I've had much the same experiences and costs (not expat though)

Try and negotiate but they've got you where they want you as they're marketing the property you want, and are acting on behalf of the LL.

Never forget they are working for the LL and not for the tenant. You are just a walking cheque-book.

Walk away and find another property. but take the risk of facing same costs with other properties.

Ask agents to state their fees upfront. However, in my experience you've got to take it on the chin if you want to rent their property.

Never a pleasant experience but essential. We've all got to live somewhere.

bristol_pilot

Perfectly legal, but these charges are on the high side. I would never rent through an agency, always from a private landlord, ideally on personal recommendation.

A private LL will most probably ask for 1 month advance rent, 1 month's rent as deposit and there will be no fees for contracts, credit checks and the like. Oh - and the rent will be chepaer too.

Agents do NOT work for the LL, they work for themselves - ripping off LL and tenant alike.

vyvyan_2

bristol_pilot wrote: »

Perfectly legal, but these charges are on the high side. I would never rent through an agency, always from a private landlord, ideally on personal recommendation.

A private LL will most probably ask for 1 month advance rent, 1 month's rent as deposit and there will be no fees for contracts, credit checks and the like. Oh - and the rent will be chepaer too.

Agents do NOT work for the LL, they work for themselves - ripping off LL and tenant alike.

Good point!

Many a time I have been in contact with the LL to find the LA has not been acting in either party's best interest.

Mrs_Z

Unfortunately so! The Lettings Agents are milking it for what they can get away with from both side; all sorts of extra fees from the tenants (for 2 minutes work) and the same from the Landlord! There are few on-line Letting Agents where private landlords can advertise and have their (for example 'upad') properties uploaded into Rightmove, etc. Might be worth having a look if there's anything suitable in their listings for you?

I'm a new landlord (or lady) myself and after the first tenancy was set up by the Letting Agent, I thought never again! As far as I'm concerned it's a daylight robbery. This time i've gone and advertised on-line and will not be charging any extras from the tenants; things like credit checks, etc will be done at cost (£30 per person). Same for tenancy renewals, absolutely no fees.

Just crossing my fingers for some nice tenants!!!