Landlord charging 'handover fee' for moving out?

MissMoneypenny

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Under the normal course of events it is usual for the landlord to pay for the check-in and the tenant/s the check-out.

How does that work if the landlord only has one check in/out, between tenants? Is that the check-in or the check-out and, more importantly, who pays?

boyced

I'm in the same situation.

I was renting a house with some friends, on a shared tenancy. I found someone to replace me on the contract - which was due to expire at the end of july. So the land lord asked them to sign a new contract.

Now the estate agent has contacted me asking me to pay £220 to change the tenancy.

This fee isn't listed in any of my documentation/tenancy agreement. Am I liable to this charge? Not that I can see, what would this be listed as?

BitterAndTwisted

Someone needs to pay the agent for the time and effort required to draw up a new agreement, so who do you suggest pays for it if not you? If you decline to pay their fee you could be at risk of not being freed from your contractual liability. Would that suit?

Landlords and agents generally like to capitalise on any opportunity to levy a fee and you appear to have just given them one

DVardysShadow

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Someone needs to pay the agent for the time and effort required to draw up a new agreement, so who do you suggest pays for it if not you? If you decline to pay their fee you could be at risk of not being freed from your contractual liability. Would that suit?

Landlords and agents generally like to capitalise on any opportunity to levy a fee and you appear to have just given them one

boyced is leaving. Is £220 a reasonable fee for a departing tenant? When he has given notice and could theoretically void the whole property?

boyced

DVardysShadow wrote: »

boyced is leaving. Is £220 a reasonable fee for a departing tenant? When he has given notice and could theoretically void the whole property?

and looking at the contract it states

So looking at this, am I only liable for fee in 3.6?

3.3 To pay to the Landlord, or the Agent, all reasonable costs and expenses awarded by the Court
or incurred by the Landlord for the following:
· recovering or attempting to recover any Rent or other monies in arrears;
· the enforcement of any reasonable obligation of the Tenant under this Agreement;
· the service of any Notice relating to any major breach of this Agreement whether or not
court proceedings are brought;
· any re-letting costs or commission incurred by the Landlord if the Tenant vacates the
Premises early apart from according to a break clause.
3.4 To pay any reasonable charges or other costs incurred by the Landlord or the Agent if any
cheque provided by the Tenant is dishonoured or if any Standing Order is withdrawn.
Reasonable charges in this instance will be agreed at £25.00 plus VAT per case.
3.5 To pay the television licence regardless of the ownership of the television set.
3.6 To pay £25.00 plus VAT towards the cost of a check out of the Inventory and Schedule of
Condition listing the condition of the Premises and the Fixtures and Fittings in the Premises at
the end or earlier termination of the Tenancy.
3.7 To pay £25.00 plus VAT towards the additional cost incurred by the Landlord or the Agent in
making and attending a second appointment to check the Inventory and Schedule of Condition
if the Tenant fails to attend a mutually agreed initial appointment.
3.8 To pay £270.00 inclusive of VAT towards the preparation of this Agreement and the cost of the
credit check.
3.9 To pay £35.00 plus VAT for each extension of the Tenancy
3.10 To pay to the Landlord the cost of any repairs of any mechanical and electrical appliances
belonging to the Landlord arising from misuse or negligence by the Tenant, his family, or his
visitors.
3.11 To pay any reasonable amount incurred by the Landlord when the Landlord is reasonably
entitled to do anything or seek compensation to remedy any breach of this Agreement by the
Tenant; within seven days of written demand, unless alternatively the Landlord decides to
deduct the amount from the Deposit at the end of the Tenancy.
3.12 To pay £25.00 plus VAT towards the costs of the Landlord or Landlords's Agent for each letter
the Agent, acting reasonably, has to send to the Tenant concerning any breaches of the
tenancy agreement.
3.13 To pay £20.00 plus VAT each and every reference given, at their request, to any third party.
3.14 To pay a surcharge of £20.00 plus VAT for employing each contractor at the end of the
tenancy to undertake any work necessary to return the property to the original condition as per
the inventory, subject to fair wear and tear.

BitterAndTwisted

DVardysShadow wrote: »

boyced is leaving. Is £220 a reasonable fee for a departing tenant? When he has given notice and could theoretically void the whole property?

In which case, as it's joint-and several agreement, that is precisely what I would choose to do if I didn't want to pay their fee.

tbs624

DVardysShadow wrote: »

boyced is leaving. Is £220 a reasonable fee for a departing tenant? When he has given notice and could theoretically void the whole property?

I think that the fee charged is excessive but note that boyced said the contract expiry date was the end of July - he is leaving prior to the FT expiry in that case.

tbs624

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

In which case, as it's joint-and several agreement, that is precisely what I would choose to do if I didn't want to pay their fee.

The Ts are all obliged to pay rent until the end of July, except where LL agrees otherwise.

jjlandlord

boyced had actually started a thread for his issue: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/53920435#Comment_53920435

I don't know why he also hijacked this one...