MSE News: Letting agency fees 'truly out of control'

robberrob

Don't you 'do gooders' understand, a rental used to be a simple agreement between a Landlord and a Tennant, often sealed with a handshake and a simple rent book.
If a tenant didn't pay he was thrown out, and the landlord kept the property reasonable- often with some help from the tenant.
THEN tenants got the law involved!!! They couldn't be thrown out for any reason -It was their 'human right' to have a home. If they fancied another colour paint they trashed the place (Or burnt it down) If the Kids broke the windows it was the landlords 'responsibility' and he got rung up all hours.etc etc
So now everything is at 'arms length' and the tenant pays for the service.

The days of the small (reasonably priced) private landlord are gone - Killed by the first judge who said "Its not fair to throw him out just because he trashed the place/didn't pay any rent / set up a drug den."

Remember a 'Do Gooder' can break any reasonable system - because they don't believe in reasonableness.

Manchee

robberrob wrote: »

Don't you 'do gooders' understand, a rental used to be a simple agreement between a Landlord and a Tennant, often sealed with a handshake and a simple rent book.
If a tenant didn't pay he was thrown out, and the landlord kept the property reasonable- often with some help from the tenant.
THEN tenants got the law involved!!! They couldn't be thrown out for any reason -It was their 'human right' to have a home. If they fancied another colour paint they trashed the place (Or burnt it down) If the Kids broke the windows it was the landlords 'responsibility' and he got rung up all hours.etc etc
So now everything is at 'arms length' and the tenant pays for the service.

The days of the small (reasonably priced) private landlord are gone - Killed by the first judge who said "Its not fair to throw him out just because he trashed the place/didn't pay any rent / set up a drug den."

Remember a 'Do Gooder' can break any reasonable system - because they don't believe in reasonableness.

I'm assuming you're a landlord?

But regardless, so is it right that LAs can charge practically whatever they want, which ends up in fees grossly disproportionate to the amount of work done/costs racked up?

BitterAndTwisted

robberrob: if you think tenants can't be evicted for any reason you're either living in the wrong country or are on another space/time continuum.

They absolutely can be evicted for any reason or no reason at all. It just has to be lawful rather than the landlord turning up on the doorstep with a few mates and a heavy object in hand......

chanz4

You don't need to pay a renewal fee, it will just go on to a rolling contract. They wont kick you out unless you don't pay, if its been sold they have to give 2 months notice, if they want you out 2 months notice...so

Also their credit checks should be called public data checks

ruggedtoast

robberrob wrote: »

Don't you 'do gooders' understand, a rental used to be a simple agreement between a Landlord and a Tennant, often sealed with a handshake and a simple rent book.
If a tenant didn't pay he was thrown out, and the landlord kept the property reasonable- often with some help from the tenant.
THEN tenants got the law involved!!! They couldn't be thrown out for any reason -It was their 'human right' to have a home. If they fancied another colour paint they trashed the place (Or burnt it down) If the Kids broke the windows it was the landlords 'responsibility' and he got rung up all hours.etc etc
So now everything is at 'arms length' and the tenant pays for the service.

The days of the small (reasonably priced) private landlord are gone - Killed by the first judge who said "Its not fair to throw him out just because he trashed the place/didn't pay any rent / set up a drug den."

Remember a 'Do Gooder' can break any reasonable system - because they don't believe in reasonableness.

Worked well for Rachman.

princeofpounds

THEN tenants got the law involved!!! They couldn't be thrown out for any reason -It was their 'human right' to have a home. If they fancied another colour paint they trashed the place (Or burnt it down) If the Kids broke the windows it was the landlords 'responsibility' and he got rung up all hours.etc etc
So now everything is at 'arms length' and the tenant pays for the service.

The days of the small (reasonably priced) private landlord are gone - Killed by the first judge who said "Its not fair to throw him out just because he trashed the place/didn't pay any rent / set up a drug den."

I agree with B&T; I think you're living in another space/time continuum.

Tenancies actually used to be legally far more secure. This was then changed by the introduction of the Assured Shorthold Tenancy in 1988, which made it much easier for landlords to remove tenants.

That's why you hear of all these old 'assured tenants' who are paying peanuts and basically 'un-evictable'.

Now, as it happens I actually agree with many things the AST brought in. I just happen to think that 6 months minimum security of tenure is far too low and, most damaging of all, permits effective retaliatory evictions.

So it's back to history class for you I'm afraid. Required reading Housing Act 1988.

Hot_air

I have never rented before, having owned my own homes for 30 years. However I decided to rent this time so I am using capital from my flat which I am selling.
I have a limited life now due to lung disease.
My very first experience, I found a 2 bed roomed bungalow in Virginia Water, not ready for occupation till 7th July as landlord is updating it.
I paid....wait for it! £1750 as a holding deposit!
6 days later I had to withdraw as my buyer had pulled out!
The landlord has my money and does not intend to give any back!
How do I stand? I had signed that the deposit was non refundable!
But most agents charge between £200 and £500 I now find out!

Turnbull2000

Hot_air wrote: »

I have never rented before, having owned my own homes for 30 years. However I decided to rent this time so I am using capital from my flat which I am selling.
I have a limited life now due to lung disease.
My very first experience, I found a 2 bed roomed bungalow in Virginia Water, not ready for occupation till 7th July as landlord is updating it.
I paid....wait for it! £1750 as a holding deposit!
6 days later I had to withdraw as my buyer had pulled out!
The landlord has my money and does not intend to give any back!
How do I stand? I had signed that the deposit was non refundable!
But most agents charge between £200 and £500 I now find out!

As outrageous as that holding deposit is, if that's what you signed up for and you're the one that pulled out of the deal, I think you'll have to write it off. Why on earth did you agree to such a price anyway?!

_Andy_

"I had signed that the deposit was non refundable!"

Well there you go then.

phoenixegmh

I am currently in the market for a room rental and having looked at a house last night, was quite pleased.

However, having spoken to the letting agency this morning, for a £450pcm room rental (not even a full property!!) they want a total upfront fee of £1362.60!!! This includes £118.20 for a credit check, the same again for an admin fee and £250 holding fee!

Long past the point where these fees should be regulated IMHO!

Oh well, looks like a cardboard box for me!