Are these unfair tenant fees??

hart89

So I have posted in the last week a couple of queries - now have another query. One tenant is moving out at the end of the fixed term tenancy, myself and another tenant are staying . We asked if we could do an assignment of tenancy, they weren’t willing, and are making us two sign a new contract of one month that will go on a rolling after the first month.

They want us to pay £75+VAT for the new contract, which is fair. But they also want us to pay £50 check out inspection and also £72 to do a new inventory - to me this doesn’t seem justified, I have never paid for a check out inspection and we didnt pay for an inventory when we first moved in a year ago. I have looked up their fees , are we right to question the £50 and £72 fees? Ths is what they have listed on their website :-

Tenant fees

Application fee per property £250 +VAT (£300 including VAT)

Referencing fee per tenant £15 + VAT (£18 including VAT)

If a guarantor is provided at the start of the application then the fee is £18 (including VAT) for the guarantor

If a guarantor is addedd to the application after referencing is already underway then the fee is £90 (including VAT),

The above fees include everything for the initial tenancy. The above includes inventory (where required), tenancy contract, deposit registration and end of tenancy checkout.

Tenancy renewal fee £90 (including VAT)

A deposit will be payable on all properties and will be registered with one of the authorised deposit protection schemes. Typically the deposit will be one month's rent + £100, however this may vary depending on the Property.

The deposit required may also change if there are particular conditions of the tenancy, for example a pet is being kept at the property. The actual deposit is usually displayed on the property details but will also be explained during your property viewing and application process.

hart89

The check out inspection is just so that deposit can be released and deductions can be taken fairly between the 3 of us, then the two of us will have to put deposit back in between the 2 of us. But I don!!!8217;t understand why we have to pay for check out inspection when you wouldn!!!8217;t usually (I know some agents do charge but I!!!8217;ve never had to pay!), and from what I understand from this page on their website the check out inspection and inventory is included in the original fees paid

HampshireH

They will do a check out as it's a tenancy end and this means they can cover their back if the person who leaves makes a claim.

They will need to release your deposit to the lead tenant and then put the new deposit in a scheme. This is where the new inventory comes in and is to benefit all new tenants and the landlord that affair reflection of the property has been given at the point of new people being responsible for the property.

Your new housemate as well as you and you current house mate will be accepting the new tenancy with the property in its current condition.

All money making but I imagine the above is how it will be justified

coffeehound

I know nothing about the legalities but one would think the check-out fee includes an inventory audit, so it does seem excessive to charge another substantial fee to just commit that to paper again.

Does your current contract mention the check-out fee?

hart89

But going by the fees listed on their website, which I have copied and pasted in the first post, they do not mention fees to set up a new inventory when taking out a new contract.

The LA has said to see tenancy agreement on point 4.1.5, which states -
!!!8220;Pay the fee of £50 including any VAT being the 50% share of any costs and disbursements in relation to the preparation of the inventory and the check out at the end of the tenancy. THe other 50% to be paid by the Landlord!!!8221;

So going by this I guess there is actually a compulsory £50 charge, but there is no mention on website or tenancy agreement of a fee to do a new inventory, and we did not pay something like this when we first took out a contract.

anselld

hart89 wrote: »

But going by the fees listed on their website, which I have copied and pasted in the first post, they do not mention fees to set up a new inventory when taking out a new contract.

The LA has said to see tenancy agreement on point 4.1.5, which states -
!!!8220;Pay the fee of £50 including any VAT being the 50% share of any costs and disbursements in relation to the preparation of the inventory and the check out at the end of the tenancy. THe other 50% to be paid by the Landlord!!!8221;

So going by this I guess there is actually a compulsory £50 charge, but there is no mention on website or tenancy agreement of a fee to do a new inventory, and we did not pay something like this when we first took out a contract.

You have created additional work by changing the contract from three to two people. If all three were staying there would be no need for an additional checkout/checkin at this point.

Someone needs to pay for the additional work you have made necessary and that is you I'm afraid. You will still be paying significantly less than the cost of a new tenancy and the agent will still be doing most of the work of a new tenancy so it seems fair enough.

Remember they are not obliged to offer you a new tenancy so be careful how much you complain.

G_M

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5835411/are-letting-agents-obliged-to-do-assignment-of-tenancy

hart89

Yes that is the question I asked a few days ago, but this is a different question. That is what these forums are for are they not? For people to get help and advice from other people about things their not sure of? Am I misusing the forum D_M?

anselld

hart89 wrote: »

Yes that is the question I asked a few days ago, but this is a different question. That is what these forums are for are they not? For people to get help and advice from other people about things their not sure of? Am I misusing the forum D_M?

All four questions were related to the same issue.
It saves time to retain questions and related follow-up questions in a single thread so that we do not have to keep revisiting the same back-story to find out what is going on.

... and you still haven't changed your keyboard settings! :wall:

captain-battenberg

Yes.
It's not a question of legality either, it's unfair.