Agents Changing Contract

ruby_eskimo

We've been in the property for almost 18 months and initially started on a 6 month contract which when we renewed it, they offered us the chance to have a one month rolling contract, which we took. Yesterday my OH received a phone call from the agents saying that they needed to change the terms of our contract because we weren't allowed to have a rolling one month contract with the deposit protection scheme that our money is saved in. Of course this is second hand information from someone who doesn't listen at the best of times, but apparently the scheme have changed their terms which has prompted the agents to want to change our contract. Now I'm ok with them changing the contract (even if it's a to a 12 month one). What I'm not happy about is them telling me today that they want to charge us a £96 renewal fee. They never asked us for a renewal fee when we changed to a rolling contract and I don't understand why we now have to pay them a fee when it's the deposit scheme that has changed it's criteria.

I guess what I'm getting at is; is there any way we can refuse to pay the renewal fee because it's not our fault that the deposit scheme has changed it's criteria?

RAS

ruby_eskimo wrote: »

Yesterday my OH received a phone call from the agents saying that they needed to change the terms of our contract because we weren't allowed to have a rolling one month contract with the deposit protection scheme that our money is saved in.

This sounds deeply dodgy.

With which scheme is your deposit registered? Ring them and ask for verification.

And then maybe ask the LL (not the agent) if he wants to pay the extra fees that the Ea will be charging him as well?

chanz4

I think they are pulling a fast one, ask them for a copy of the new terms and then email the dps

G_M

The deposit registration is not your problem - it's the LLs.

Ifyou are happy with,or want the security of, a 12 month fixed term, sign.

If you want the flexibility but reduced security, of a rolling contract (for which there need be no fee), don't sign!


Ending/Renewing an AST (what happens when the Fixed Term ends?)(What is a Periodic Tenancy?)(How can a LL remove a tenant?)(How can a tenant end a tenancy?)

Guest101

Very interesting. I think there'd be more posts about this if it's true ( I suspect not as there would be no benefit to the scheme. )

Please let us know about the outcome

ValHaller

ruby_eskimo wrote: »

I guess what I'm getting at is; is there any way we can refuse to pay the renewal fee because it's not our fault that the deposit scheme has changed it's criteria?

Yes, tell them to protect it in a proper scheme. This is noting to do with protecting your deposit and everything to do with the agent realising the potential to screw some fees out of you.