Admin charges on extending rental arrangement?

deedeeliz

Hi all, thanks in advance for any advice.

In Nov 06 my housemate and I moved in together and were charged a sum by the letting agents for credit checks and admin fees, I think it was over £150.

At the end of the 6 month tenancy we agreed to stay in the property for another year, with our rent increasing from £500 up to £550 on the basis that it was being brought in line with other rentals in the area. For the 'drawing up of the new contract' we were charged an additional £60 which I wasn't too pleased about but we were told it was that or move out.

Now we want to extend our tenancy for another 6 months, do you think we'll be charged a fee equal to last years? Can they do this? Or rather, is there anything I can say that will lower the admin fee we have to pay?

Thanks again

tbs624

Tell the LA that you're happy to go onto a periodic agreement - the terms would remain the same as your current AST. (You have to give 1 months notice, & the LA/LL has to give you 2 months.) If you prefer the security of another 6 month term, be utterly charming & remind the LA that you're good tenants. If they won't budge, you could contact the LL direct and talk to him/her about it. You must be given the LLs address within 21 days of asking for it. No LL wants to risk a void period or the uncertainty of new tenants, so will normally do what they can to make sure you stay on.
It really is time LAs were prevented from racking up these admin charges, when there is very little work done on their part at renewal. Good luck with it!

deedeeliz

Thanks for that - will be calling them in a few days - i'm not good with confrontation but cant afford the money!

ncooper1974

tbs is right. Tell the LA that you want to go periodic - there'll be no need to draw up a new 'agreement'.
I'm assuming you've paid all your rent on time and the property is kept clean, then if they (LA) mess you around or fob you off, contact the LL directly and remind them how much you dont want to move but would have to if you were forced to pay more 'admin' charges.
Trust me, in this climate, no sane minded LL will want the hassle of a void!

Bungarm2001

Go periodic.

We have just done this with a relatively new tenant we have in a property we own in a town quite far away from us (reason why we are still using the LA) The LA was gutted, frankly, and did all they could to persuade us to sign up for another 6 months AST..this would have meant a fee from us (last time they tried to charge us the full finders fee of £560+VAT) AND a 'new contract' fee from the tenant (fee amount unknown to us...but I'm sure the tenant will let us know) so you can see, a nice little earner for the LA for doing FA.

Going periodic means they have no reason AT ALL to charge ANYTHING, LL and tenant alike. Your legal rights are all still sagfeguarded. In fact, it is better for you as you will only need to give one months clear notice whereas the LL has to give 2.