Expensive contract fee

johnscales

I've just received my tenancy agreement from my letting agent and the contract fee is £265 +VAT (the price of one weeks rent minus the vat)
I'm a landlord also and haven't seen a contract fee greater than £200 from other agents and is always shared betwen LL and tenant.
Can I enquire/argue a case for this before signing?
Incidentally it's the LL's own contract so I don't know if this makes a difference.

Thanks

_Andy_

You can ask for a reduction. Probably won't get one.

Just because other people charge smaller amounts doesn't mean everyone has to.

johnscales

Thanks Andy.
Anyone else confirm the same?
I'm guessing it's therefore a question I should have asked earlier, say at holding deposit stage?

Mr_Moo_2

What Andy says..... always good to get all the fees disclosed up front, admin fees, referencing fees, charges for check in / check out, what will they do when the tenancy goes past its fixed term. Agents will typically charge for anything they think they can - and both parties if/when possible ...

[Deleted User]

National chain or small independent? Former will have less discretion when it comes to fees and losing a tenant this late in the stage won't matter, latter will probably find losing a potential tenant a headache and will be able to change fees as and when they like. You can always ask for a reduction, explain that you have worked with another letting agent and fees were x and you're unwilling to continue if they don't reduce them to a reasonable level, although they may call your bluff and terminate any chance of the tenancy going ahead.

£265 + VAT for a contract fee is brutal, unless that includes the credit check and reference check fee?

johnscales

Thanks again.

I've called the LA and asked them to confirm the contract fees from the invoice and it transpires that it's actually the LA's admin fee.
It was explained to me that there's no 'field' on their system that allows them to put 'admin fee' in there for the invoice?!? Weird.
Also confirmed with them that there's actually no fee for the contract being drawn up for which the tenant has to pay (LL has to pay LA for using their own contract) and there's no Inventory or check in fee. Bonus
Although I understand there will obviously be a check out fee.
Have to say the contract is much more 'ley' written than one of the 'national chain' ones i've come across.
Try 4 pages of this sized writing. :rotfl: