Tenancy 'Renewal Fee'

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Send a cheque for the fee that you absent-mindedly "forget" to sign. Then go on holiday (ie out of contact) for 3 weeks. when you come back the contract will have automatically become rolling, and there's no need for a new one.

I hate how bullied tenants feel about paying these ridiculous charges.

p1212

I don't think 100GBP per head worth this all, imo just pay it in.

Your chanches are very little, the landlord might've worked with the agency for long time without any problem and he needs to have a good long-term relationship with them, as they make sure everything is ok and properly done on the legal side with his X00.000 pounds property. So he won't care about what tenants say, who will potentially leave in two months time and he never meets them again.

Also you say now you won't leave, but if you get a new girlfriend, who lives in her flat paying her mortgage, you'll move together in no time... The new contract is the landlords insurance he will have steady income from his flat for the next year.

ollyver27

rpc wrote: »

If (and only if) you are happy to be on a fixed term tenancy, I would reply that you are happy on a SPT and have no intention to move out but you would agree to a new fixed term if the LL wants one. Given that you are happy with the status quo, you do not agree to pay any fees for a new contract.

If possible, send a copy to the LL as well so that the agent doesn't spin them a tale about how you are about to leave with little notice.

What I am worried about though, is that they will say if we want a fixed term, then we need to pay the fee for referencing. They aren't justifying the cost as a contract change, but instead justifying it as a referencing fee (which I've said before, I KNOW doesn't cost this much)

ollyver27

p1212 wrote: »

I don't think 100GBP per head worth this all, imo just pay it in.

Your chanches are very little, the landlord might've worked with the agency for long time without any problem and he needs to have a good long-term relationship with them, as they make sure everything is ok and properly done on the legal side with his X00.000 pounds property. So he won't care about what tenants say, who will potentially leave in two months time and he never meets them again.

Also you say now you won't leave, but if you get a new girlfriend, who lives in her flat paying her mortgage, you'll move together in no time... The new contract is the landlords insurance he will have steady income from his flat for the next year.

This is what I am thinking - I have no idea about their relationship with the landlord, and whether the landlord would even care about this. For all I know, the landlord could be the letting agent's brother...

ollyver27

SerialRenter wrote: »

Also worth asking the letting agents to justify their fee's by giving you a breakdown of costs.

But as all they'll do is change the dates on a word document, print it and mail it, I think they may have to be quite creative to justify £200!

Again, their justification is repeat referencing, not changing the contract.

If I asked them for costs, they probably would just refuse to provide/lie - it's probably fruitless even asking?

I'm tempted to say that I'm willing to go onto an AST, but don;t want to pay the fee. But again, I know from previous emails that this will just be refused on the basis of referencing...

mart.vader

OLLYVER, Grow a pair !

You are on an SPT. The references they got before, (and you paid for) are adequate, If they're not, the LL or the Agency can pay for new ones.

If they want to get you onto an AST, they can't force you, whether or not, the LL "wishes to make plans for his property". and they can pay for it

As to what P1212 says ? "your chances are very little ? imo just pay it in ? they make sure everything is ok and properly done on the legal side with his X00.000 pounds property."

What he means is - not properly done and not legal. - As has been said to you several times before.

ollyver27

mart.vader wrote: »

OLLYVER, Grow a pair !

You are on an SPT. The references they got before, (and you paid for) are adequate, If they're not, the LL or the Agency can pay for new ones.

If they want to get you onto an AST, they can't force you, whether or not, the LL "wishes to make plans for his property". and they can pay for it

As to what P1212 says ? "your chances are very little ? imo just pay it in ? they make sure everything is ok and properly done on the legal side with his X00.000 pounds property."

What he means is - not properly done and not legal. - As has been said to you several times before.

Yes but it is my circumstances... Honestly, I would fight this to the death, but I live with someone who tbh doesn't really want to go through all of this now, and it would be unfair on them. I wouldn't want to feel responsible for my flatmate (who has verbally said to me that they wish to stay in this particular property indefinitely, and would prefer the security - although my flatmate also obviously doesn't agree with the fees). I hate admitting defeat, I'm stubborn, and especially when I know I'm right in this situation.

I was going to ask the agent whether we can just pay cost-price for the referencing, but I know what they'll say... Would bartering with them be fruitless?

dancingfairy

ASK THE LANDLORD! Yes, the actual landlord, not the agent. Write to the landlord at the address on the tenancy agreement (which may or may not be the agents address). In fact, I believe you are entitled to be given the landlords actual address if you ask for it. Others will know more.
Is it a company you are renting from or a person - what does the tenancy agreement say?
df

dancingfairy

I believe the S21 is invalid because a) they have offered you a new contract and b) the deposit has not been re-protected when you went on to a rolling tenancy. I believe this is something they now have to do?
Their deadline of 24/01 is ridiculous.
df
Edit: in terms of bartering with the letting agent, then yes, of course it's possible. The problem you have is that you can either sign a new contract or wait for them to try and give you a court order and then you can point out the S21 is invalid etc etc. You need to discuss your tactics with your housemate. It's going to come down to who blinks first and it's not going to be easy to get the estate agents to lower their fees

rpc

ollyver27 wrote: »

What I am worried about though, is that they will say if we want a fixed term, then we need to pay the fee for referencing.

What I am suggesting is saying that you don't want a fixed term, but will accept one if the LL prefers. What you will not do is pay for something only the LL wants.