Estate agent unfair exit fee dispute

246810ABC

Hi, I am a new forum member and I would like to ask some questions regarding EA exit fee. 

I found the tenants through Openrent and introduced to the EA for a full management service two years ago.  AST ending in mid March 2025. Last month, I gave two months required notice (as per EA's terms and conditions) to terminate their service due to their unsatisfactory performance. The EA boss advised that I need to pay them an exit fee of GBP750 plus VAT, total of GBP900.  He sent me a highlighted paragraph that if their company introduced tenants to us (which is not true and I have email proof that I introduced tenants to them instead) If I do not agree they will have no choice but to take legal action.  In July 2023, I complained about the late rent transfer a few times and the boss promised me that there will be no charge if I decide to leave them.  I followed up with an email to confirm his no exit fee in future if I decide to leave them.  His staff has confirmed by email to me that the boss had confirmed he agreed there will be no exit fee.  So I forwarded this email to remind the boss of his promise.  I have not heard from them for one and a half week.  They are trying to ignore my disagreement.  I have reminded them to answer me twice but still nothing.  What shall I do next?  Please advise if someone know what I should do.

Tenants will pay the last rent to the EA this month, I am guessing the EA will still charge me exit fee of GBP900 before transferring the rent of the rent to us.  If they do, can I ask for a refund and if they refuse, can I take them to small court claim?

Also, they recently sent an email to another client regarding their problem but they cc my name onto their email.  I think they have in breach of GDPR to me and to the other client.  Can I ask for DSAR request? 

I hope someone will give me some advise.  Thank you in advance for your kind attention.  Looking forward to have some comments.  

saajan_12

246810ABC said:

Hi, I am a new forum member and I would like to ask some questions regarding EA exit fee. 

I found the tenants through Openrent and introduced to the EA for a full management service two years ago.  AST ending in mid March 2025. Last month, I gave two months required notice (as per EA's terms and conditions) to terminate their service due to their unsatisfactory performance. The EA boss advised that I need to pay them an exit fee of GBP750 plus VAT, total of GBP900.  He sent me a highlighted paragraph that if their company introduced tenants to us (which is not true and I have email proof that I introduced tenants to them instead) If I do not agree they will have no choice but to take legal action.  In July 2023, I complained about the late rent transfer a few times and the boss promised me that there will be no charge if I decide to leave them.  I followed up with an email to confirm his no exit fee in future if I decide to leave them.  His staff has confirmed by email to me that the boss had confirmed he agreed there will be no exit fee.  So I forwarded this email to remind the boss of his promise.  I have not heard from them for one and a half week.  They are trying to ignore my disagreement.  I have reminded them to answer me twice but still nothing.  What shall I do next?  Please advise if someone know what I should do.

Why do you need them to respond? You've given them the notice, so can assume the contract ends there. Proceed with the tenants as you would with no agent - ie give them your bank details for rent and your contact details for any repair issues. 

246810ABC said:

Tenants will pay the last rent to the EA this month, I am guessing the EA will still charge me exit fee of GBP900 before transferring the rent of the rent to us.  If they do, can I ask for a refund and if they refuse, can I take them to small court claim?

Two options:
A) ask the tenant to pay you directly from this month, so the issue doesn't arise. Manually pay the agent their % commission immediately so they don't have a reason to complain. 
leave it as is and if they still deduct the exit fee then send a letter before action and then take them to court. 

The other stuff about the accidental email is probably just that and personally I wouldn't spend the time to make a big deal of it. 

246810ABC

The EA threatens to take legal action if I do not agree to pay them the exit fee.  I have their promise with no expiry date so I do not think they can take legal action on me because it will be a total embarrassment to themselves. Right?

We signed up a full management with rent collection every month.  If I ask tenants to pay us in the last month, will I breach the contract and they can take me to court?  Please advise.