Joint tenancy split advice - overcharging?

Simo5000

Good morning everyone!

This is my first post to the forum, but have used it many times for great advice.

I turn to the forum for some advice. From all the research online I can not find my particular situation.

My girlfriend and I split up in November 2017. We had a joint tenancy agreement on a rolling contract and have been in the flat for 4 years at that point. She moved out in December 2017, it’s was amicable. We went to our letting agent in December to get her name taken off the agreement. We were passed from pillar to post and no one really cared....so we gave up. I trusted her, she trusted me, nothing silly was going to happen (and nothing has).
Now, 9 months down the line, out of the blue I get a phone call saying I need to pay £96 for a reference and £210 for a new tenancy agreement. Demanding me to pay it before the end of the month (it was 19th sept and I just came back from holiday). The call took me by surprise and had a pressuring tone to it all. I said I couldn’t pay it all and that I could pay the reference this month, the rest next month . She said she’d ask the lettings department and get back to me. She did very quickly and said the manager agreed it was ok, I missed the call so it was left as an answer phone message.
Now, the more I thought about it the more I thought it was a cash grab! I already had an individual reference when I first moved in, so why would they need another? Nothing has changed my side, my landlord will the be the same also. So my first question is...

Am I obliged to pay this new reference?

And my second is,

Will I have to pay the full amount for the tenancy agreement as that is a ludicrous price?

Ah they chancing their arm to get money out of me for very little work?

I didn’t contact the landlord to see if he’d like to take me on privately but i couldn’t talk to him directly, just a relative.

I look forward to everyone’s response,

Thank you

Simo5000

* I did contact the landlord

Simo5000

I can’t seem to edit the post so just wanted to add:-

Payment has never been missed, either as a couple or by myself.
Routine checks have never been denied and I have a viewing on Tuesday. They have missed multiple dates for routine checks.

anselld

As estate agent fees go, they are not bad. They will have to do admin and referencing if you still want a new tenancy since you are now asking to cover affordability on your own.

However if you don't still want a new agreement just tell them you have changed your mind and you are happy to continue as is.

Simo5000

Hi Anselld.

Thank you for your reply. I’m not asking for the new agreement the agent is telling me. I’m happy to continue as is.

Cakeguts

Here is something you may want to think about. How are you going to pay the rent if you lose your job and you don't have any savings? You said that you had just come back from holiday and you don't have £300 spare to pay for this tenancy change. How far would £300 get you if you lost your job or you got ill and couldn't work?

Simo5000

Sorry I wasn’t more in depth. I do have have over £300 in savings. I can afford it but it is in my savings. I tend to live within my pay check each month. I budget myself accordingly each month and this month a came back from holiday. Money is a little tight, naturally.
I sure as hell am against dipping into my savings for an obvious cash grab.
I came here for advice about the my agent change gorging fees. I work very hard for my money and I’m sure as hell am not throwing it away because the agent could potentially be trying their arm with bloated prices.