Fees for a relet

mrs_rd

Hi there,

I'm a newbie, hoping that you lovely folks will know the answer to this as I can't find much advice online.

I've have been renting the same house for three years now, and have agreed with the landlord to stay on again. When we signed a new contract last year and the year before we had to pay £88 to the estate agent for their 'fees', even though they do absolutely nothing and if anything goes wrong we contact the landlord directly. This year they want £144 again to do nothing more than print a contract.

Someone told me recently that you don't actually have to legally pay this fee. Does anyone know if that's true?

Many thanks in advance

misspickle_2

£144 to print off a contract? Good god.
I'm grateful to have a rolling contract after the first year.
That sounds extortionate.
I will be interested what people say to you.
Could you ask them for a rolling contract now? Especially as you've been there 3 years!
Its worth a go. You have nothing to lose. They can only say no.

Pixie5740

It depends where you are as to whether the fees are lawful or not. In Scotland letting agency fees are unlawful, in Wales I think the fees are lawful just now but they're looking at changing that, in England the fees are lawful and I'm not sure of the situation in NI.

Assuming you're in England or Wales you don't have to sign a new fixed term contract to remain in the property. Once the fixed term ends you will automatically start a Statutory Periodic Tenancy. There's no extra paperwork involved so no need for the LA to charge £144 for Ctrl + P.

Just say to your LL that you're very happy living in the property and if it's ok, can you have a periodic tenancy rather than a fixed term to avoid the LA fees. Chances are the LA would also charge your LL a fee for getting you to sign a new fixed term.