Fee for renewing tenancy?

guppy

clutton wrote: »

its not about "moneysaving" its about complying with the law.

Not knocking your job I realise all that stuff is important, especially a CORGI cert. Some landlords/tenants need handholding for sure.

But personally I wouldn't be prepared to give an agent who has done nothing but introduce me to a property (no management/rent handling) a second bite of the cherry every six months just for printing a contract I don't even want.

clutton_2

indeed i did miss the bit about no prior notice of fees - of course that is wrong, absolutely wrong. !!

you wont know how good your agent is until the !!!!!! hits the fan - its only then that you really get your moneys worth - but you can't only "pay for the bad times" can you ?

I have taken over several properties from other agents who have done appalling things in their management - i turn things round - then, seemingly have little to do - until the next AST is due.

its swings and roundabouts.

guppy

Just to be really clear...I'm talking about where the property isn't managed by an agent at all - where the agent's sole involvement is to advertise it and sign the initial contract on behalf of LL. I think in those circumstances, asking for a "renewal" fee is a bit cheeky! Especially when the tenant is already on a periodic.

clutton_2

if i employed an agent i would first of all be clear if i was asking him to "tenant-find-only" - or tenant find and manage = there is a world of difference.

if i thought a "managing" agent was finding me a tenant and then doing b*gger all until AST renewal time - I'd sack them.

guppy

clutton wrote: »

"tenant-find-only"

That's the arrangement I was referring to. In that case the agent should be happy with the initial fee from LL and tenant, asking for a renewal fee is a joke!

franklee

guppy wrote: »

That's the arrangement I was referring to. In that case the agent should be happy with the initial fee from LL and tenant, asking for a renewal fee is a joke!

Yes but surely it depends on the terms the landlord signs up to? The tenant doesn't have much choice depending on what properties are available with what agent. But the landlord has a free choice of agent for their property so why do landlords sign such stupid contracts with the agent?

Landlords should look at fees charged to them directly and also the fees charged to the tenant as well as other impressions the agent makes on the tenant as it's in the landlord's interest for a good tenant to stay on. It seems that just passes landlords by :mad:

Oh and don't get me started on fees the agents charge when the landlord and tenant agree to end a tenancy early when a replacement tenant has been found by the agent. I've come across cases when the agent wants their full percentage of the rent fees from both the old tenant AND the replacement tenant's rent for the remainder of the old tenancy. Surely they should just be paid for the costs to find and check in the replacement tenant, not 8-12% for months on end of BOTH tenant's rent for the same period.