Letting Agency - Am I right to be angry?

freak2002 · 2 Jun 2011 at 13:49

Basically our current landlord would like her property back so we have to move out.

We have found another house with the same letting agency and they want us to pay the £200 for referencing for the new house?

How is that justified? We have paid the rent on time every month for the past year to the same place, what sort of checks are they going to do? Look in their filing cabinet to see if we have paid?

I just dont get it! Are there any legal issues here? I cant afford to just throw £200 at them. I can understand a new agent but the same agent? I guess they just do it to get more money out of us.

a1ex2001 · 2 Jun 2011 at 13:55

Challenge them but don't expect to get anywhere letting agencies are all about the money and extras like these are how they bump up the numbers.

Vonhelmet · 2 Jun 2011 at 13:59

Dirty thieving ******
Sounds about right, tbh.

EDIT: Oops, forgot we aren't allowed that one.

Deleted member 77746 · 2 Jun 2011 at 14:01

When I did this my landlord did the main work skipping out the agency as there was no way I would pay fees twice. I just said keep the bond to the landlord until I move out of the second home. I have now moved back in with grandparents and waiting for the bond to be sorted out but the Agency went bust not long ago so I deal with the landlord directly now.

Dugganator · 2 Jun 2011 at 14:03

Did you say to them "why does it cost 200 to check us when we have already been with you"

It might be just that they are working from a set charges for a new customer maybe but letting agents are terrible from what I hear so glad I dont have to deal with them.

Btw you are complete right to be angry.

freak2002 · 2 Jun 2011 at 14:04

Just challenged it, might put it under my wifes name as she earns more and is more responsible (teacher). Therefore cutting the cost in half.

I am also in contact with the landlords daughter (friend of a friend) to see if he can just agree to rent it to us off the bat. We can then give him proof of employment etc.

Deleted member 77746 · 2 Jun 2011 at 14:05

freak2002 said:
Just challenged it, might put it under my wifes name as she earns more and is more responsible (teacher). Therefore cutting the cost in half.

I am also in contact with the landlords daughter (friend of a friend) to see if he can just agree to rent it to us off the bat. We can then give him proof of employment etc.

Skip out the Agency if you can! Saves a lot of the dirty work.

freak2002 · 2 Jun 2011 at 14:07

iDroid84 said:
Skip out the Agency if you can! Saves a lot of the dirty work.

I really want to but he seems determined to go through the blasted agency! :mad:

radderfire · 2 Jun 2011 at 14:09

freak2002 said:
Basically our current landlord would like her property back so we have to move out.

I'm no expert, but I think the tenancy agreement might come into play here. There will probably be clauses saying how much notice you must be given before you have to move out. This might strengthen your bargaining position if you are being asked to move out sooner than the tenancy agreement says.

Rgds

Deleted member 77746 · 2 Jun 2011 at 14:16

freak2002 said:
I really want to but he seems determined to go through the blasted agency!

Bummer.

freak2002 · 2 Jun 2011 at 14:16

radderfire said:
I'm no expert, but I think the tenancy agreement might come into play here. There will probably be clauses saying how much notice you must be given before you have to move out. This might strengthen your bargaining position if you are being asked to move out sooner than the tenancy agreement says.

Rgds

She has given us till 6th August (exactly 1 year as per agreement). The house we want is ready on 1st July but the new landlord is willing to wait for a month. As we hope to be there for 3 years or so.

::EDIT::

Just had an email from the agent, the boss is going to get back to me about the fee, I suggested half their cost as Half the forms are their agency checks, and half are employment checks.

Icm76 · 2 Jun 2011 at 14:21

All you can do is tell them how you feel, that the reference fee is unacceptable as you have a good history with the agent, and either they agree to waive it this time or you walk away and find another place via a different agent.

Dugganator · 2 Jun 2011 at 14:27

Half is still to much for something that doesnt require them to do anything. Next time dont give them an amount let them come back to you for you to haggle if require and in this case I dont think it is.

JamesM · 2 Jun 2011 at 14:43

Even though you had paid the rent every month, whats to say you haven't built up huge amounts of debt while living at your current property which could impact you paying rent later on? Your employment may have changed and you might be on a lower wage compared to before.

Yes £200 is rather a lot but in order to check those items then the reference company will charge the letting agent the same amount to do so, hence they pass that on to you.

Just sitting on the other side of the fence here.

Abraham · 2 Jun 2011 at 14:56

JamesM said:
Even though you had paid the rent every month, whats to say you haven't built up huge amounts of debt while living at your current property which could impact you paying rent later on? Your employment may have changed and you might be on a lower wage compared to before.

Yes £200 is rather a lot but in order to check those items then the reference company will charge the letting agent the same amount to do so, hence they pass that on to you.

Just sitting on the other side of the fence here.

while they will charge them it's not likely to top about £50 for the actual checks. The agency are and always will milk you for cash.

freak2002 · 2 Jun 2011 at 15:01

JamesM said:
.....the reference company will charge the letting agent the same amount to do so, hence they pass that on to you.

Just sitting on the other side of the fence here.

Her latest email says exactly this.

Related to your post however - as long as we meet the rent on time does it matter about our debts? We do have a loan however had this last year too.

mattyfez · 2 Jun 2011 at 15:18

Letting agencies are thives, they charge the landlord aswell.

Luckily I kinda new my landlady before I moved into my place, she was going to go VIA agency until she realised what little value they offer. In the end she printed off a generic tenancy document and we did it between ourselves and everyone was happy.

ScarySquirrel · 2 Jun 2011 at 15:20

mattyfez said:
Letting agencies are thives, they charge the landlord aswell.

Luckily I kinda new my landlady before I moved into my place, she was going to go VIA agency until she realised what little value they offer. In the end she printed off a generic tenancy document and we did it between ourselves and everyone was happy.

Until something goes wrong.

Brookert · 2 Jun 2011 at 15:22

2 months is the minimum period to move out

edscdk · 2 Jun 2011 at 15:22

ScarySquirrel said:
Until something goes wrong.

technically they do nothing more than you can on your own, ie if the tennant stops paying they still have to give him notice and if he refused to go they still have to sort it out properly - obviously they know exactly the steps to take and its their job...