Ending Tenancy Early - normal re-list fees??

kredd

I want to end my tenancy early. The agency that I'm paying my rent to states that I need to pay £780 including vat to re-list the property. They called this the 'agreed landlord's re-list fee'.

We realised that we would have to pay a fee and also the rent as usual until a new tenant is found but £780 seems pretty steep just to re-list. A fee is mentioned in our contract but not the actual amount.

I should also mention that we renewed a 12 month contract last month. Extremely bad timing I know. We've been at the property since 2008. I asked if this fee was negotiable and they said no. I want to get in touch with the landlord to come to a compromise as I feel the agency just wants to profit from the re-list fee. I don't mind finding another tenant myself and assigning the tenancy but there is no mention of this is my contract.

I bought the title register for the property and the company that holds the title is in administration. I have an address but no telephone number. Should I approach the landlord in person? Is this fee warranted?

I have called the agency to enquire how much they charge for a new re-list and they quoted £495 +VAT which they also said was negotiable but of course they didn't know I was already a tenant with them.

Please help!

G_M

You've signed a legal contract so the only way to end it is by agreement.

The amount you'll need to pay is entirely a matter for negotiation/agreement. But let's face it, you don't have a strong bargaining position!

More here. Ending/Renewing an AST

If the registered owner is in administration then..... he /they are not the owner. The Official Receiver is!

You can Write to the agent who collects the rent and ask for the LL's name/address (pointing out the Receivership issue) and they have 21 days to supply it ( Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 )

Werdnal

Is £780 less than 11 months remaining rent that you would be tied to if the "deal" the agent has offered is not to your liking?

You signed a 12 month agreement, you pay 12 months rent, or you appeal to the LL/Agent to allow you to go for whatever fee they see fit to offer you. They do not even have to agree to release you, so whilst you consider this fee excessive, you may have very little choice!

Fire_Fox

Write to the letting agent and ask for the name and address of your landlord, you have a legal right to this. Why did you sign a new contract, is that what you, the landlord or the letting agent wanted? What does the £780+ include, is it the ending of the tenancy AND the starting of a new one (£495+)? Are you dealing with any of this in writing or just on the telephone?

kredd

Thanks for the quick replies.

I realise that my situation is not ideal and I don't have much of a bargaining position but £780 just seems to be quite a hefty fee for re-listing the property especially considering the fact the we have just signed the contract last month and therefore the landlord hasn't had to pay any re-list costs themselves. Actually since we've been at the property since 2008 I assume they haven't had to pay the re-list costs for 4 years now but I might be completely mistaken on this point.

We signed the contract not knowing we had to move and because of pressure to renew the 12 month contract from the agency. Of course we could have just said no so it's just our bad luck that now we need to end the tenancy early.

We're happy to find a tenant ourselves, as I mentioned earlier, but I do not know how to effectively relay this or if I would still need to pay the re-list costs anyway. I'm guessing that the agency wouldn't want to forfeit their fees and allow me to find a tenant myself so I will be writing to get the LL details and write to them directly.

Anyone have any information about successfully assigning the tenancy to a new tenant? I assume that this is also at the landlord's discretion and that I might have to go around the letting agency...

kredd

P.S. I have been dealing with the agency only through email and the £780 inc vat is just to end the contract. I also still have to pay the normal rent until a new tenant is found which is acceptable.

Fire_Fox

If the letting agent wanted you to sign a new contract why was this, on the instruction of the landlord or because they pocket a little fee? You may find that the landlord would prefer a vacant property, not another tenant, if they are receivers. Write and ask.

G_M

kredd wrote: »

Anyone have any information about successfully assigning the tenancy to a new tenant? I assume that this is also at the landlord's discretion and that I might have to go around the letting agency...

Correct. I doubt you are allowed to sublet, and Assignment can only be done with the LL (agent)'s agreement. Which by the sound of it would incur a cost. Say, £780?