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Challenging letting agent renewal fees
WibblyGirly
Posts: 470 Forumite
My letting agent are wanting to charge us £84 to renew our contract. The contract actually states this should be £78 so I am firstly going to challenge that.
However, we are looking to buy a house within the next 6 months and I am loathe to pay £78 for a piece of paper with different dates on it which locks us in. When we signed for the contract (the day is started in the agents office) I enquired about going periodic after the initial 6 months and was told that the landlord doesn't want that and we'll be told to leave. I wasn't happy with this but circumstances meant either sign the paper or be homeless so signed it.
Now, I want to make this periodic, I believe if I explain the circumstances to landlord he may be reasonable, we've met him when he came to check the boiler and was polite and nice, even knocked on the door each time to come in during the visit even though we knew he was there to fix something and could have come in.
Also, as soon as we moved in 2 rentals identical to mine went up for rent at lower prices, I only pay £450 so £50 is a lot of money at this level and I doubt the landlord would want to lose that per month to match the last house rented in the street.
This house also isn't as nice as the £400per month one, no shed, tiny yard, no white good came with it and I swear the oven is older than I am! So doubt they'll get the same rent as I'm paying again.
As I know seasoned landlords frequent the boards, is this a risky plan of mine? Would you give a tenant their notice and risk a void and £50 a month less in rent just to have that piece of paper that guarantees 6 months?
However, we are looking to buy a house within the next 6 months and I am loathe to pay £78 for a piece of paper with different dates on it which locks us in. When we signed for the contract (the day is started in the agents office) I enquired about going periodic after the initial 6 months and was told that the landlord doesn't want that and we'll be told to leave. I wasn't happy with this but circumstances meant either sign the paper or be homeless so signed it.
Now, I want to make this periodic, I believe if I explain the circumstances to landlord he may be reasonable, we've met him when he came to check the boiler and was polite and nice, even knocked on the door each time to come in during the visit even though we knew he was there to fix something and could have come in.
Also, as soon as we moved in 2 rentals identical to mine went up for rent at lower prices, I only pay £450 so £50 is a lot of money at this level and I doubt the landlord would want to lose that per month to match the last house rented in the street.
This house also isn't as nice as the £400per month one, no shed, tiny yard, no white good came with it and I swear the oven is older than I am! So doubt they'll get the same rent as I'm paying again.
As I know seasoned landlords frequent the boards, is this a risky plan of mine? Would you give a tenant their notice and risk a void and £50 a month less in rent just to have that piece of paper that guarantees 6 months?
0
Comments
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Simply don't renew, continue as periodic. Job done.
Any sensible landlord would not evict for this. Indeed I prefer tenancies to continue as periodic (more flexibility for me, more incentive for tenant to comply with contract). But sadly being sensible is not a requirement to be a landlord: Or.....0 -
Just ignore the letting agent and you will automatically go into a periodic contract.
You are under no obligation to sign another contract.Should've = Should HAVE (not 'of')
Would've = Would HAVE (not 'of')
No, I am not perfect, but yes I do judge people on their use of basic English language. If you didn't know the above, then learn it! (If English is your second language, then you are forgiven!)0 -
As has been posted above, but also speak to the 'll so he is aware of your reason for not resigning.I am a LandLord,(under review) so there!:p0
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Just ignore them. The chances of them evicting you are extremely slim, and even if they did it would take months.
The landlord probably doesn't even care, it's usually the rental agents who want you to sign again, they usually charge fees to the tenant and the landlord for a renewal. It's a complete scamChanging the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.0 -
Just ignore them. The chances of them evicting you are extremely slim, and even if they did it would take months.
The landlord probably doesn't even care, it's usually the rental agents who want you to sign again, they usually charge fees to the tenant and the landlord for a renewal. It's a complete scam
Wish I knew this 10 years ago, paid 110 for a renewal once, never again."It is prudent when shopping for something important, not to limit yourself to Pound land/Estate Agents"
G_M/ Bowlhead99 RIP0 -
ok, so the LL has two routes
1/ You say you're going periodic. You carry on paying rent. LL does nothing. In a nutshell you carry on paying rent but can leave with a months notice.
2/ You say you're going periodic. LL starts eviction process on LA's advice. Section 21 costs money to serve. You ignore the notice so LL on LA's advice has to go to court to get eviction notice. You still ignore. LL on LA's advice instructs bailiffs. All this takes 6 months and more money. In a nutshell the LL has a lot of additional expense whilst also running the risk you will stop paying rent.
Which course of action do you think the LL will take considering it's a business? I'd be tempted to write a letter to LA, CCing the LL telling them you're going periodic0 -
As above.
And read:
* Ending/renewing an AST: what happens when a fixed term ends? How can a LL or tenant end a tenancy? What is a periodic tenancy?0 -
good advice above, but, you need to know a bit about your Landlord... mainly if he ever intends to sell the property one day or not.
We once signed a 12 month tenancy, and never renewed at all, and lived there for a further 4 years before we decided to move on... not one rent increase in the 5 years either.
if you unsure about the landlord, maybe the £84 for "piece of mind" and small bit of security is worth the money?0 -
I'd ask for a breakclause in the next 6 month contract and sign again.0
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