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Renting a flat and agency fees
sjbrun
Posts: 470 Forumite
Hello,
I'm a tennant
Ive not rented a flat in 5 years and im currently moving cities to Leeds. Ive looked for several flats on zoopla and right move but I get a reply from an estate agent.
Hunters want £280 in fees, another wanted £114 per person.. I spoke with Morgans who said they are providing a service which must be paid for. I said that service is to the landlord to fill the property and its of their beneit to do credit checks and guarentors if needed and not mine, however I can provide refrences and wage slips.
The last time I rented a flat I paid £200 to the agent but then this fee came off the first months rent and the agent didnt just keep it.
I don't understand the benefit of these fees to myself as a tennant, but I guess this is something to contact an MP about. In my mind its a bit like having a man standing at the door of a shop saying it will cost £50 to have a look round.
Aside from Gumtree does anyone know of a place that doesnt charge agency fees? Id prefer to rent private. I work full time and can cover the rent comfortably in a stable job.
I'm a tennant
Ive not rented a flat in 5 years and im currently moving cities to Leeds. Ive looked for several flats on zoopla and right move but I get a reply from an estate agent.
Hunters want £280 in fees, another wanted £114 per person.. I spoke with Morgans who said they are providing a service which must be paid for. I said that service is to the landlord to fill the property and its of their beneit to do credit checks and guarentors if needed and not mine, however I can provide refrences and wage slips.
The last time I rented a flat I paid £200 to the agent but then this fee came off the first months rent and the agent didnt just keep it.
I don't understand the benefit of these fees to myself as a tennant, but I guess this is something to contact an MP about. In my mind its a bit like having a man standing at the door of a shop saying it will cost £50 to have a look round.
Aside from Gumtree does anyone know of a place that doesnt charge agency fees? Id prefer to rent private. I work full time and can cover the rent comfortably in a stable job.
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Comments
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The benefit to you is you get a tenancy....
I agree, it's a bummer, but sadly it's now usual practice with letting agents.
As a LL, where I advertise/vet my own tenants, I take an upfront deposit to cover my costs, otherwise I'd be forking out every time a prospect changed their mind and took a property elsewhere (very common), or turned out to be unsuitable (bankuptcy/whatever).
I reimburse the cost for he successful applicant off he 1st months rent as I agree, it's to my benefit to credit check etc.
Where I use an agent to tenant find for me, I often still do the vetting as above (just use the agent to direct applicants to me), or if they vet, I try to choose an agent who will not p*ss of my new tenant by ripping them off before the tenancy has even started!0 -
Sign Shelter's petition to End Letting Fees in England.0
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Petition signed - thanks for sharing."The problem with Internet quotes is that you can't always depend on their accuracy" - Abraham Lincoln, 18640
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If you can find a private LL, or if they use an agent try and talk them into sacking the agent and save the savings with you. You get less rent and he has more profit
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