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Disputed Letting Fees & Referencing
01.matthew
Posts: 8 Forumite
So I am in a bit of a pickle. Sorry in advance for the wall of text but just want to be thorough 
My situation is that last June myself and my partner rented a 4 bedroomed property. 5/6 months in and we realised we had rushed in and were we couldn't afford it.
Rather than default on the rent I spoke to the agent about our difficulties and made it clear that we were struggling. They agreed to move us to a smaller, cheaper property and transfer the deposit (not having the money to save for one).
All this happened ok around start of March, and then start of June I got an email saying I owed them money. They said it was due to damage (a dent in the wall, which I agreed to pay), cleaning of the carpet on the one stairway in the house (apparently costing 150 quid), and the most another, a surprise £720 "cancellation" fee.
In my contract for the previous property there was a clause for an early ended contract for this fee. However just prior to moving I requested written confirmation for all fees to move out of the current property and into the new one. Having got this via email I paid everything and thought it was ok. So having them ask for this 3 months later seems to be very unfair, even more when they did not loose any money. The refused to let us move out of the old place until someone could move in (which the did after the day we left).
I was going to just refuse but now have come up against another problem. We are moving again due to having a new job up north. But they will want to reference this agent. Following a discussion they made in clear they will be giving me a bad reference unless I pay the fee.
They have been the worst agents I have ever had, repairs outstanding (washing machine broken over a week, shower over a month) and had been the same in the last property. But they seem to have me over a barrel?
My situation is that last June myself and my partner rented a 4 bedroomed property. 5/6 months in and we realised we had rushed in and were we couldn't afford it.
Rather than default on the rent I spoke to the agent about our difficulties and made it clear that we were struggling. They agreed to move us to a smaller, cheaper property and transfer the deposit (not having the money to save for one).
All this happened ok around start of March, and then start of June I got an email saying I owed them money. They said it was due to damage (a dent in the wall, which I agreed to pay), cleaning of the carpet on the one stairway in the house (apparently costing 150 quid), and the most another, a surprise £720 "cancellation" fee.
In my contract for the previous property there was a clause for an early ended contract for this fee. However just prior to moving I requested written confirmation for all fees to move out of the current property and into the new one. Having got this via email I paid everything and thought it was ok. So having them ask for this 3 months later seems to be very unfair, even more when they did not loose any money. The refused to let us move out of the old place until someone could move in (which the did after the day we left).
I was going to just refuse but now have come up against another problem. We are moving again due to having a new job up north. But they will want to reference this agent. Following a discussion they made in clear they will be giving me a bad reference unless I pay the fee.
They have been the worst agents I have ever had, repairs outstanding (washing machine broken over a week, shower over a month) and had been the same in the last property. But they seem to have me over a barrel?
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