Letter agent membership scheme - Love your postcode

eddddy

swoody1362 wrote: »

I'm due to view a rental property that's dealt with by Love Your Postcode in Birmingham. I've asked about the fees ahead of the viewing and they told me that I had to join their 'membership scheme' for a whopping £1,200 - £1,400....

It sounds like these are the same agents that were charging somebody a £10k for selling a £137k property.

See: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5843815

That other thread makes them sound very dodgy.

need_an_answer

OP is there a particular reason you have chosen to view a property with this company?


I cant help but wonder that unless its a gold plated castle and the only one of its kind you might be better off using a different method of property rental.

swoody1362

Need an answer:

I had just seen it on rightmove and contacted them through there. The flat looked nice enough and rent was within my budget. I had no particular desire to deal with this company (and in fact won't deal with them now).

I called them ahead of the viewing just to get a run down of fees thinking it would just be the normal credit reference fees. Alarm bells rang when they mentioned this membership scheme.

The search continues - thanks for any replies!

G_M

The membership allows for a family to have the first choice over any available property within the group

So all members of the scheme have first choice......?

And who gets 'second choice'? Applicants who cannot in any event rent these properties witout joining the scheme....?


:huh:

Browntoa

Sounds like an unprotected deposit scheme to attempt dodging the rules

Smodlet

Browntoa wrote: »

Sounds like an unprotected deposit scheme to attempt dodging the rules

Isn't that illegal? This "Mr Singh" or whatever his name is needs to be reported to Trading Standards, doesn't he?

Davesnave

G_M wrote: »

So all members of the scheme have first choice......?

Yep, provided they're genuine, salt-of-the-earth, working-class folk, who won't know their DPS from their DFS.

G_M

Sounds like an unprotected deposit scheme to attempt dodging the rules

Smodlet wrote: »

Isn't that illegal? This "Mr Singh" or whatever his name is needs to be reported to Trading Standards, doesn't he?

no - because it's not a deposit as it's not refundable. You pay it and it's gone.

stator

G_M wrote: »

So all members of the scheme have first choice......?

And who gets 'second choice'? Applicants who cannot in any event rent these properties witout joining the scheme....?


:huh:

Everybody get's first choice, just some people's choices are more first than others. Simples.

I can see absolutely nothing wrong with this scheme whatsoever. Sounds fantastic. If only they threw in a free timeshare leaflet I would sign up now, and I don't even need to rent a flat!

ps see my signature

franklee

List of fees a tenant pays here:
https://www.loveyourpostcode.com/tenant-fee-schedule/

Fees alone look expensive but are you saying they want membership fee of £1,200 - £1,400 as well?

Some novel fees in there too e.g. Failure to attend gas safety/ repairs/ inspection £90.00.

Maintenance call out (made in error) fee £90.00. I guess you had better be an expert and make sure there is a fault before telling them!

Refundable check in & out fee £500.00. What is that about?

Still I give them full marks for innovation :eek: