Letting agency advice (Extortion)

djpleasure

MRGINGE, comments like "It's hardly exploiting these scummy tenants by saying pay me £100 or we'll evict you and it'll cost you much more." The word ignorant springs to mind.

So tenants are scummy? Without the Tenants there would be no Free Market applicable in this case!

Re: If you call they bluff you won't be evicted in 99% of the cases.

Being registered disabled, and I cannot afford even the 1% risk. In a scenario where there is a shortage of property, it is easy to replace me as a tenant, unscrupulous Letting Agents will do that, their profit comes way before my or any other tenants well-being. As with most cases, it is the lower earners and poor that are victims of this selfish ideology, which no matter what your views are, it is clearly just plain wrong. Nothing warrants a 100% increase, how can you not see that as wrong and extortionate? Unless it is something you would do yourself? Morals are a rare commodity these days.

mrginge

jjlandlord wrote: »

'threatened'? !!!!!! indeed.

People should not be left alone in any negotiation, then, as clearly they cannot handle it.

You are of course once again correct.
Not all people are as brave, confident or intelligent as your good self and such people should go live in a hole where they can't bother those of us who are.

See you down the lodge later for a quick half and some intolerant rambling?

nirajn123

Im probably one of the most pro tenant posters on here. And even i find it ludicrous that you want security for a long term, but not pay for it

I mixed it with my own experience, in this particular instance OP is after long term security so he need to insist on a longer contract with appropriate break in clause when he renews next. My rant was about my own experience - when I wanted to continue in my last rented place, the agent insisted that renewal is the only option - this happened only once to me after renting for over 7 years prior - I did not had need for it - I was perfectly happy with 2 months of notice period on either side but I did not wanted to move as I was actively looking to buy at that time.

I am no longer renting (thank god) and who knows might turn into a LL shortly. I don't want to go on on this topic but I had terrible experiences with EAs up and down the country and strongly believe that the it is not an efficient free market. Regulation or technology revolution, it needs something to shock EAs into doing the right thing for customer rather than making money at every opportunity.

As said and repeated, the issue is the aggressive sales tactics used by agent.
They bluff. If you call they bluff you won't be evicted in 99% of the cases.

You are right, but you may not always have the right circumstances to risk it as in the case of OP.

mrginge

djpleasure wrote: »

MRGINGE, comments like "It's hardly exploiting these scummy tenants by saying pay me £100 or we'll evict you and it'll cost you much more." The word ignorant springs to mind.

So tenants are scummy? an easy thing to say whilst hiding behind your keyboard (warrior). Without the Tenants there would be no Free Market applicable in this case!

erm. It's a shame the word 'irony' didn't spring to mind first

Guest101

mrginge wrote: »

erm. It's a shame the word 'irony' didn't spring to mind first

Was rather amusing i thought.

jjlandlord

mrginge wrote: »

Not all people are as brave, confident or intelligent as your good self and such people should go live in a hole where they can't bother those of us who are.

Two options:
- Either people work on improving themselves and learn. What I think they should do.
- Or, they are hopeless and everything and every standard should be lowered to rock bottom. What you seem to be suggesting.

I am not the bad guy. In fact I am the one thinking that people are not stupid and should be treated as such.

csgohan4

djpleasure wrote: »

MRGINGE, comments like "It's hardly exploiting these scummy tenants by saying pay me £100 or we'll evict you and it'll cost you much more." The word ignorant springs to mind.

So tenants are scummy? Without the Tenants there would be no Free Market applicable in this case!

Re: If you call they bluff you won't be evicted in 99% of the cases.

Being registered disabled, and I cannot afford even the 1% risk. In a scenario where there is a shortage of property, it is easy to replace me as a tenant, unscrupulous Letting Agents will do that, their profit comes way before my or any other tenants well-being. As with most cases, it is the lower earners and poor that are victims of this selfish ideology, which no matter what your views are, it is clearly just plain wrong. Nothing warrants a 100% increase, how can you not see that as wrong and extortionate? Unless it is something you would do yourself? Morals are a rare commodity these days.

There's a difference between morally wrong and being illegal


It's nothing personal, but Business.


I've been renting for the past 8 years and they charge astronomical fees, like 125 pounds for ID/ credit check per person, I move every 1 year at least.


What can I do? Rage and rant on MSE and end up homeless or pay and bite the bullet. There is no regulation in this matter, TOP is voluntary and they can charge what ever they want, we have no control. There is a demand for renting, more than buyers of property due to how the mortgage market is running at the moment.


If you don't want to pay double your renewal fee, you can always go and find some other EA, but I guarantee you they too will charge fees. You will never escape fees when you deal with EA. It cost me 120 pounds to renew a contract, which was effectively photocopying fees.


If you don't like it move, you complain, the estate agent won't give a monkey's of your situation or you as a person, it's business move on.


Bare in mind if you move, there will many others EA will be able to get as tenants. It works out better for them too, they can charge a higher base rent and have more fees for the new tenants to pay, happened to my old flat when I left. Rent went up 10% than what I paid.


Playing the poor or disabled card will not cut it with the Estate agents. They are not a charity nor do they care of your personal circumstances. My wife had a life threatening illness just before renewal, they still raised rent by 50 pounds a month and wouldn't budge despite sending them a long letter with clinic letters as proof.


They are a business and as such they should be treated as such, with contempt. Remember they are not social housing, it is private housing.

Guest101

csgohan4 wrote: »

There's a difference between morally wrong and being illegal


It's nothing personal, but Business.


I've been renting for the past 8 years and they charge astronomical fees, like 125 pounds for ID/ credit check per person, I move every 1 year at least.


What can I do? Rage and rant on MSE and end up homeless or pay and bite the bullet. There is no regulation in this matter, TOP is voluntary and they can charge what ever they want, we have no control. There is a demand for renting, more than buyers of property due to how the mortgage market is running at the moment.


If you don't want to pay double your renewal fee, you can always go and find some other EA, but I guarantee you they too will charge fees. You will never escape fees when you deal with EA. It cost me 120 pounds to renew a contract, which was effectively photocopying fees.


If you don't like it move, you complain, the estate agent won't give a monkey's of your situation or you as a person, it's business move on.


Bare in mind if you move, there will many others EA will be able to get as tenants. It works out better for them too, they can charge a higher base rent and have more fees for the new tenants to pay, happened to my old flat when I left. Rent went up 10% than what I paid.


Playing the poor or disabled card will not cut it with the Estate agents. They are not a charity nor do they care of your personal circumstances. My wife had a life threatening illness just before renewal, they still raised rent by 50 pounds a month and wouldn't budge despite sending them a long letter with clinic letters as proof.


They are a business and as such they should be treated as such, with contempt. Remember they are not social housing, it is private housing.

Good thing the contract is with the LL and not the LA then isnt it.

csgohan4

Guest101 wrote: »

Good thing the contract is with the LL and not the LA then isnt it.

Well why is the LL renting the place out? Out of the goodness of his own heart? Why not provide it for free for those in need?


Oh wait maybe he has a mortgage to pay and wants to make some money as well.


Either way it's still business and some LL/EA are better than others, but the bottom line is that, money.


Your just another tenant with a contract to them, don't like it, there are plenty of others to line up to sign on the dotted line. Sure he might wait a month or two, but he can reset the base the rent and make the T+C worse.


It is what it is and it is a choice on where you want to live and who you do business with.

Guest101

csgohan4 wrote: »

Well why is the LL renting the place out? Out of the goodness of his own heart? Why not provide it for free for those in need?


Oh wait maybe he has a mortgage to pay and wants to make some money as well.


Either way it's still business and some LL/EA are better than others, but the bottom line is that, money.


Your just another tenant with a contract to them, don't like it, there are plenty of others to line up to sign on the dotted line. Sure he might wait a month or two, but he can reset the base the rent and make the T+C worse.


It is what it is and it is a choice on where you want to live and who you do business with.

You missed the point entirely.

The tenant only has a contract with the LL.

The contract cannot be unfair.

Most LLs cannot handle 1 or 2 months without rent.