Excessive Letting Agent Fees

finchyboy82

Hi,

I'll shortly be moving out of an unfurnished 1 bed flat. My tenancy states I have to pay for a check-out inventory to be completed.
The letting agent has quoted £115+VAT = £138 for this to be done, which seems excessive to me.

Any advice on how to challenge this? Should I just refuse to pay?

thanks!

martinsurrey

Did the contract you signed state you would have to pay a check out fee?

If so just pay it, or you could end up with a CCJ against you, which isn’t worth the hassle.

Unfortunately its all part of the Letting agent con.

princeofpounds

That price isn't actually unusual these days.

A proper checkout does take longer than you would think, including the writing up of the report. Yes, it's basically just a checklist, but there are a lot of boxes to tick. Plus the travel time to the property.

But what martinsurrey said is true, it's usually not priced that competitively to squeeze just a little more money.

finchyboy82

I guess they then charge the landlord a check-in inventory fee, which of course is the same document

_Andy_

Why is it 'excessive'? Are you suggesting they should do it free?
How would you quantify a fair price then?

finchyboy82

I'd say it's excessive as a quick google reveals local inventory clerk prices are around the £75 mark. And I'm pretty sure that's more or less what I paid the last time I moved flats.

_Andy_

Doesn't make it unfair though.

Are you suggesting any company that charges for a service should charge the same as everyone else?

finchyboy82

It's double the going rate therefore in my opinion it's excessive.

I just wanted to understand if there is someway these charges can be disputed, perhaps through the tenancy deposit scheme. What if they had said it was going to be £1000.

I'm sure I'll just pay the money and be done with it to save the hassle but it seems to me there is a distinct lack of legal protection for tenants.

PasturesNew

princeofpounds wrote: »

That price isn't actually unusual these days.

A proper checkout does take longer than you would think, including the writing up of the report. Yes, it's basically just a checklist, but there are a lot of boxes to tick. Plus the travel time to the property.

But what martinsurrey said is true, it's usually not priced that competitively to squeeze just a little more money.

It makes you spit when it's 3 days' takehome pay though, for "nothing".

Manchee

finchyboy82 wrote: »

It's double the going rate therefore in my opinion it's excessive.

I just wanted to understand if there is someway these charges can be disputed, perhaps through the tenancy deposit scheme. What if they had said it was going to be £1000.

I'm sure I'll just pay the money and be done with it to save the hassle but it seems to me there is a distinct lack of legal protection for tenants.

Were you not given details of all charges and costs when you signed your TA?

finchyboy82

No details given, tenancy just says we pay a check-out fee.

I realise I should have gotten a price in writing at the time - we live and learn.