Tenant Fees - Infuriating

Sambella

A consumer body has just recommended that landlords should pay these fees as they can shop around for a better deal and consumers cannot. They are tied to the agents that the landlords choose.

Here's hoping something comes from it.

whatajoke2016

KingS6 wrote: »

I wonder how many LA's are failing to uphold their obligations under the new rules of the Consumer Rights Act (May 2015).

They have to provide a list of their fees for both landlords and tenants in their branches, literature and websites. However I am unsure whether they have to provide a further breakdown of these fees.

I reported my own LA to Trading Standards for failing to do this. Apparently it's commonplace.

I just reported one yesterday and have just seen James Chiltern are not doing the same either in a clear listing of what they charge and in customer view in the agency.

whatajoke2016

Guest101 wrote: »

No one is forced to use a letting agent though

A tenant is to some extent unless the tenant speaks to the landlord directly and asks them to use a different agent, however in my case the landlord despite the fees being horrible, has asked to use that one as they did a good job last time

(LET ONLY)... what can one do?

Guest101

KingS6 wrote: »

I wonder how many LA's are failing to uphold their obligations under the new rules of the Consumer Rights Act (May 2015).

They have to provide a list of their fees for both landlords and tenants in their branches, literature and websites. However I am unsure whether they have to provide a further breakdown of these fees.

I reported my own LA to Trading Standards for failing to do this. Apparently it's commonplace.

No they just need to make the fees clear (inclusive of VAT) there is no requirement to break this down

Guest101

Sambella wrote: »

A consumer body has just recommended that landlords should pay these fees as they can shop around for a better deal and consumers cannot. They are tied to the agents that the landlords choose.

Here's hoping something comes from it.

That's rubbish, of course they can shop around.

Guest101

whatajoke2016 wrote: »

A tenant is to some extent unless the tenant speaks to the landlord directly and asks them to use a different agent, however in my case the landlord despite the fees being horrible, has asked to use that one as they did a good job last time

(LET ONLY)... what can one do?

You are free to look elsewhere, either at a totally independent listing by a landlord, or shop around for cheaper agencies.


You are choosing to use an agent because you want what they are offering, just not happy with the price.


I'm not even defending letting agents on this, some are totally incompetent. But I cant understand this 'its not fair' attitude, normally reserved for children

itchyfeet123

Guest101 wrote: »

You are free to look elsewhere, either at a totally independent listing by a landlord, or shop around for cheaper agencies.

Yes and no. Sure, there are 6 agents on my nearest high street for me to choose from or I could ask everyone I know if they happen to know anyone looking to rent out a suitable property. But the local rental market being what it is, all the agents charge similarly exorbitant fees and the majority of landlords go through agents. I've lived places where the competition was for tenants rather than properties, and the agents offered 50% off the first month's rent, or paid existing tenants finders fess in the hundreds.

As to unfair, well, I guess the market is what it is. I certainly find most of the fees charged by my current letting agent outrageous. My landlord is paying them to perform a service for him. I'm paying them because they know that in the current market tenants will pay.

Guest101

itchyfeet123 wrote: »

Yes and no. Sure, there are 6 agents on my nearest high street for me to choose from or I could ask everyone I know if they happen to know anyone looking to rent out a suitable property. - That's pretty much it. You are saving yourself from searching by going to a central location. But the local rental market being what it is, all the agents charge similarly exorbitant fees and the majority of landlords go through agents. - that's just dictated by a free market economy though. If people didn't pay the fees and didn't use agents, they would either have to lower fees, or close down. Equally whilst they might all charge roughly the same fees, if one dropped down their prices others would follow. Conversely if one had no tenants fees at all and pass it all to the LL, they'd lose all their clients. I've lived places where the competition was for tenants rather than properties, and the agents offered 50% off the first month's rent, or paid existing tenants finders fess in the hundreds. - Of course local economies dictate the trend.

As to unfair, well, I guess the market is what it is. I certainly find most of the fees charged by my current letting agent outrageous. My landlord is paying them to perform a service for him. I'm paying them because they know that in the current market tenants will pay.

What are you paying for exactly?


Because now that you're in. You don't need to pay anything else.

squeeks

If you live in an area that is dominated by a handful of landlords going through particular agents - you don't get a lot of choice.

Conversely if you are looking for a particular area close to say a school. They may not come up very often and you'll be stuck with whatever agent the landlord decided to go for. We were looking for 18 months last time we did a rental....

Think of it more like motor way service stations... yes you can choose not to stop but there isn't anything else for the next 50 odd miles....

Guest101

squeeks wrote: »

If you live in an area that is dominated by a handful of landlords going through particular agents - you don't get a lot of choice.

Conversely if you are looking for a particular area close to say a school. They may not come up very often and you'll be stuck with whatever agent the landlord decided to go for. We were looking for 18 months last time we did a rental....

Think of it more like motor way service stations... yes you can choose not to stop but there isn't anything else for the next 50 odd miles....

None of that is inherently 'unfair'.


You've chosen to look in this area
Or near a school, or whatever. There are alternatives, but you don't want those.


You want this specific area.