Letting Agent Fees

tukka123

Just been stung on my rent renewal.... £75+ VAT per tenant..... Apparently this is a cheapo fee...

All I ever see in the paper is people moaning about the increasing fees and talk of regulations but is anything actually in the pipeline or should we expect the high fees to stay around for ages.

I accept that a renewal fee to change the dates on my contract and cover the deposit protection cover but seriously it can't cost that much!!!

Anyone know if the GOV will put something in place soon?:mad:

Herbalus

You don't have to sign a renewal form. At the end of your fixed term you simply go onto a rolling contract with the same conditions as your previous contract. If you want the security of a fixed term then the renewal pays for sense of security.

An option if you haven't already done it, is to change the dates on the tenancy agreement yourself and send a copy to the landlord to sign. The contract is between them and you - you don't need the 'negotiation' services of the letting agent.

Also, I wasn't aware that the deposit protection needed renewing, nor that a fee was required to maintain it?

ognum

I am a landlord and I object to these fees, I actually negotiated these down with my letting agents, they now cost £10 and I pay it!

Talk to your landlord they may not even know these fees exist, the letting agent works for the landlord.

Herbalus

The fees on this are crazy. I know someone who was asked for £250 to 'negotiate' a new contract on their behalf. I bet some people will pay it as well.

jayss

My last renewal I told the agency that I was happy to go onto a rolling contract, but would sign a new 12months if the landlord was insisting.

They claimed the landlord was insisting, but they'd waive the fee as a goodwill gesture.

tukka123

Just phoned the agent to ask about rolling contract and they were very dismissive of it. Someone is due to call me back so will update then.

Havce to admit I gave a different name and my work mobile number.

I know my landlord well and I am sure he would be happy with a rolling contract so only the genbt would push for it.

There is nothing in their contract about renewal fees or rolling contract so does anyone know if they have the right to say no.

tim123456789

tukka123 wrote: »

There is nothing in their contract about renewal fees or rolling contract so does anyone know if they have the right to say no.

The conversion to a periodic tenancy happens automatically by statute

the agency/LL can do nothing to stop it happening except evict you

tim

tukka123

tim123456789 wrote: »

The conversion to a periodic tenancy happens automatically by statute

the agency/LL can do nothing to stop it happening except evict you

tim

Sorry Tim to sound thick. Does that mean it auto goes to rolling and the LL and agent cant change that or that I have to have a new agreement fix?

A

BitterAndTwisted

A periodic tenancy automatically arises the day after your fixed-term expires. The agent or the landlord they represent cannot prevent this.

However, if the landlord would prefer the comfort of having you signed up for another fixed-term they could be persuaded by the agent to issue you with a S21 Notice to get you out. Then, the agent will be laughing all the way to the bank at the prospect of charging the landlord another tenant-finding fee of couple of hundred quid. Or more.

tukka123

So if I agree if my landlord that we will do this the LL or I can hand in a notice period when we want. 1 month 6 month a years time etc....

The agent have told me that the renewal cost includes deposit protection. Any idea what this really means or is it another payment for the agent. They said when I was talking about renewing it would be £40+VAT.

tukka123

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

A periodic tenancy automatically arises the day after your fixed-term expires. The agent or the landlord they represent cannot prevent this.

However, if the landlord would prefer the comfort of having you signed up for another fixed-term they could be persuaded by the agent to issue you with a S21 Notice to get you out. Then, the agent will be laughing all the way to the bank at the prospect of charging the landlord another tenant-finding fee of couple of hundred quid. Or more.

So if I agree if my landlord that we will do this the LL or I can hand in a notice period when we want. 1 month 6 month a years time etc....

The agent have told me that the renewal cost includes deposit protection. Any idea what this really means or is it another payment for the agent. They said when I was talking about renewing it would be £40+VAT.