Letting agent's 'reference' fee

Cakeguts

sheff6107 wrote: »

"If an electrician quotes you £2,000 to change a light bulb and you accept then there is no room for discussion"

I understand your point but by that logic it would be legal for cowboy roofers to get away with charging old ladies their life savings to clear their guttering.

But in this instance a £220 admin and credit check fee is reasonable for the market (for the being).

It isn't the same as the old ladies and the guttering. The reason why it isn't the same is that the old ladies don't need to have their guttering cleared. The old ladies don't get any service for their money. That is why it is classed as deception.

You did get a service for your money so no deception.

Miss_Samantha

sheff6107 wrote: »

I understand your point but by that logic it would be legal for cowboy roofers to get away with charging old ladies their life savings to clear their guttering.

It is legal to charge any amount for any service. Cowboy roofers can get away with it if they do it 'properly'. The issue is that they often use tactics which are abusive and unlawful.

Here, in itself it does not matter one bit whether the charge is 'reasonable for the market'.

mailmannz

I saw something a couple weeks ago where the government was going to start looking into fees charged by letting agents and it raised the point about reference check fees being disproportion to the actual work being carried out etc.