Letting agent fees.... Is this legal?

Gaynor41

I have lived in a shared flat for two years. In May we signed a contract to stay for another year, but myself and another person want to move out. The agent is saying we must each pay £360 to have the tenancy amended. And the remaining person must pay £60 to be "re-referenced" and the new people must pay £180!! To be fair, these fees are in the contract and I didn't pay much attention at the time, but I have questions- is it legal to be charging £360? Also the contract says it will charge this amount 'per amendment' - surely if they are changing two names on the contract at the same time they only need to re-draw it once, so we would only pay £360 between two of us?! In addition to paying this money, I also have to find someone to move into the room. The 360 is literally to take my name from the tenancy. It's way above what other agencies charge and I don't see how it is justifiable. Can anyone help me? Thanks

marksoton

You accepted the contract terms. You now need to live by them.

KingS6

I doubt you've recourse by this stage of the game. Letting agents are known to charge very high fees for small changes to paperwork

However if this is a "tenant fee" you can ask for a breakdown.

Did you not notice a breakdown in landlord's fees and tenant's fees at their offices , website and literature etc? Not just in your contract?

mrginge

KingS6 wrote: »

Did you not notice a breakdown in landlord's fees and tenant's fees at their offices , website and literature etc? Not just in your contract?

Can you explain the relevance of this?

G_M

Gaynor41 wrote: »

I have lived in a shared flat for two years. In May we signed a contract to stay for another year, but myself and another person want to move out. The agent is saying we must each pays

Well the landlord/agent could simply say: "No."

You signed a contract for a year and now wish to break that contract.

I agree the fees are high, but.......

Might be worth speaking to the landlord direct.

KingS6

mrginge wrote: »

Can you explain the relevance of this?

Worth asking to see what answer they come up with why the fees are so high.

Miss_Samantha

KingS6 wrote: »

Worth asking to see what answer they come up with why the fees are so high.

Because that's what they charge.

They don't have to explain.

KingS6

Miss_Samantha wrote: »

Because that's what they charge.

They don't have to explain.

They don't have to. However there is no harm in asking hence my point.

Cakeguts

It is cheap compared with paying the rent until the end of the contract in May. You signed a contract to say that you would stay and pay rent until next May. Now you are trying to break that contract and you are complaining about the cost to do that. The landlord doesn't have to let you off paying the rest of the rent for the contract you signed and yet you are complaining?

What they are asking you to pay is cheap and they are letting you break the contract.

Gaynor41

I'm taken aback by the time of some responses who seem quite angry that I have even raised the question. I'm not complaining; I have simply asked if it is legal or if anyone knew what the law was relating to this. I understand I am breaking the contract, and should expect to pay something. I am questioning the amount they are asking for. A bit of googling today showed up that letting agents have to show how fees are broken down and should be 'justifiable' as described by the property redress scheme. I can't see how reissuing a standard contract will cost £720 at the moment. Thank you to those who have helped me.

Gaynor41

That should read 'tone of responses' not 'time'