Shelter Campaign- End Letting Fees

whalster

People must remember that 50% of all lettings are with a private landlord not using agents , smart tenants look for this route first .Shelter is riding a wave with this though .
Agent fees are bad news for landlords and tenants but other than shout the odds how many families have shelter housed this year ? how many houses have they built? its a little like the Rentergirl blog loads of moaning but no practical action.
Now if your looking for a housing charity look to the Rowntree foundation help and advice and housing solutions

shoe*diva79

I have signed it. I agree there should be some fees to cover the costs but many letting agents are exploiting renters with vey high fees.

AlexMac

If I get my donkey in gear I too will sign (speaking as a small LL who doesn't agree with agents exploiting tenants). Good luck to Shelter. It's a real pity that in the past 20 years, the trend has emerged whereby people in financial services and related trades - including unregulated letting agents - have behaved so unscrupulously that Governemnt has, eventually, to intervene. Whatever happened to ethics...? Or am I naive?

thelem

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

The tenants ultimately pay all fees.

Ultimately yes, but the question is how and when. Interesting figures you've quoted, but can you back them up - what's your source?

As a tenant, would you rather be asked to pay the agency's cost when moving in, at the same time as you're needing to find money for a deposit and your initial rent, or monthly as part of the rent that you've budgeted for?

As a landlord the amount the agency charges should be much more affordable. If not, you can pay it from the tenant's deposit (assuming an insurance-backed dps) and you've at least 6 months to save it before the tenant will want it back.

As a tenant, would you rather the fee was included in the advertised monthly cost, or sprung on you as a hidden extra when you've already committed to the house (e.g. by serving notice at your old place, paying a holding deposit, or even just mentally thinking you'd got your lovely new place sorted).

As a landlord, will you demand better value from an agency if you're paying their fee yourself, or if your tenants will be paying it? (you're the one who pick the agency remember, the tenant picks a property and gets whatever agency comes with it).

It might also encourage landlords to ask why they need a new contract every 6 months if they end up footing the bill each time.