Rent application fee issue

catoutthebag

Hi we have a problem

We have been renting a flat for 1.5 years

We paid an application fee at the start of the tenancy. A week later we paid months rent & deposit. This was for 6 months. The app fee was paid in cash to a member of staff who's left now. In cash bevayse he Said the chip n pin wasn't working

This is a national company

After 6 months we renewed & paid another (reduced) app fee for 12 months

So the 12 months (18mths total) have gone & due to renew.

They ring is today to say they have no record of the first app fee, though we paid.

We have a bank statement showing app fee plus £10 being withdrawn from round the corner to the agents. We don't remember getting a receipt.

Where do we stand?

We says to them, after 1.5 years you have think you have no record of this? How were we allowed in the property in the first place? And how we were allowed to pay a renewal app fee after 6 months if the first one wasn't paid?

We did pay. Who knows if the guy who has left has not taken the cash?

We won't be paying these scummy agents again

catoutthebag

Bump

We're going into agency today

Where do we stand?

anselld

Just tell them what you have stated. If they do not have a record it is their problem, not yours. If they start getting difficult speak directly to your Landlord.

Pixie5740

I'm not sure to be honest. A year and a half later seems a bit late to be querying it really. I'd probably tell them to poke it.

Guest101

Lol tell them to swivel. What they gonna do?

catoutthebag

That's what we thought but you know what these pond scum are like with deposits

We have a bank statement of me transferring 50% app fee to partner & her withdrawing that amount to pay to the guy at agency

We've never paid rent late, had 2 perfect inspections, made the renewal app fee on time, etc

anselld

catoutthebag wrote: »

That's what we thought but you know what these pond scum are like with deposits

We have a bank statement of me transferring 50% app fee to partner & her withdrawing that amount to pay to the guy at agency

We've never paid rent late, had 2 perfect inspections, made the renewal app fee on time, etc

Wait and see what they say first. You never know they might be reasonable. They might just be making enquiries because they suspect the ex staff member of trousering money before leaving.
... on the other hand they might be pond scum ... let us know how it goes.

Guest101

Ur deposit is between u and the ll, the agency can never take fees from it.

Voyager2002

Both of you remember paying the fee. If it came to court, that would be enough.

Incidentally, you should not be paying any further fees: once your contract expires you automatically move on to a periodic tenancy unless there is a new contract, and that should be fine for you.

catoutthebag

We called them & the person we spoke to yesterday wasn't in so someone else took down our details & heard what we had to say. They didn't seem too interested or knew what was happening just 'nothing to worry about , probably mistake' etc

catoutthebag

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Both of you remember paying the fee. If it came to court, that would be enough.

Incidentally, you should not be paying any further fees: once your contract expires you automatically move on to a periodic tenancy unless there is a new contract, and that should be fine for you.

Yes the fee referred to the initial 6 months, then we Paid a halved fee on a periodic contract between 6-18 month period