Letting agency contract renewal fees

ChrisD.

ChrisD.

ChrisD.

Man of Honour
Joined
20 Sep 2006
Posts
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Just been landed with a £180+ VAT bill for renewing the contract. Been here 6 months, seems a little excessive? What are you guys paying and can I fight this?

I was planning on writing to the agency to find out why they are charging so much.
 
I thought it was bad enough when the last ones charged me £100 + VAT, I'd be livid to be paying what yours want but unfortunately there is little you can do but bend over and take it if you want to stay there.
 
MilanoChris said:
Just been landed with a £180+ VAT bill for renewing the contract. Been here 6 months, seems a little excessive? What are you guys paying and can I fight this?

I was planning on writing to the agency to find out why they are charging so much.
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Not much you can do overall if that's what they say it costs.

On the other hand, I'd recommend you start playing difficult about it -- first of all by asking for a complete breakdown of the costs that this charge covers, as you believe it to be excessive.
 
Rented for several years on 6 and 12 month contracts, never had this before.

180 quid to print a standard form, stick your name on it and sign it. No wonder people hate estate/letting agents!
 
Here in usual practice the landlord pays the letting agents a %, and that's it. The tenant just pays their rent.
Most contracts roll over from the lease term to a rolling monthly contract unless either side prefers it to end, in which case the usual notice periods are given.
Contracts can be renewed 12 months on 12 months, no fee is generally charged to the tenant by the agent.

English letting agents seem to try and fleece everyone on all sides of the equation.
 
Hikari Kisugi said:
Here in usual practice the landlord pays the letting agents a %, and that's it. The tenant just pays their rent.
Most contracts roll over from the lease term to a rolling monthly contract unless either side prefers it to end, in which case the usual notice periods are given.
Contracts can be renewed 12 months on 12 months, no fee is generally charged to the tenant by the agent.

English letting agents seem to try and fleece everyone on all sides of the equation.
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I take it you're in Scotland? They changed the law up there a few years ago to outlaw stupidly high charges like this.
 
I just contacted my landlord directly and said we want our contract to automatically go onto a rolling contract on the same terms (a contract that is not renewed will do this automatically by law). Therefore neither he or us had to pay any renewal fees!
 
£180 wtf all they do is change a few dates on your existing contract and print it out, I'd just say what's the point it automatically goes onto a rolling contract anyway
 
When I finished my first 6 months on my flat I had to pay a £25 renewal fee. I didn't think that was too bad, but considering all they are doing is ticking a box and printing some forms out for you to sign it's a bit excessive, let alone the amount you are paying.

However my Agency are total ***** and are now increasing my rent by £100 on December 11th. I like my flat, nicish area, solid build, can't hear neigbours, spacious.. but it is no where near worth an extra £100.
 
You don't have to pay it.

If you don't the contract drops to a monthly roller where you can give one months notice and the landlord can give you two. In reality no sane landlord will kick you out unless you cause trouble or miss payments.

The last place I rented every 6 months they came after me for £80 for a 6 month renewal. Never paid it.
 
MrMoonX said:
what's the point it automatically goes onto a rolling contract anyway
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That's a point

Was the original contract a fixed 6 months or a minimum 6 months. If it's a minimum, just stick with that one if you like it.
 
mame said:
That's a point

Was the original contract a fixed 6 months or a minimum 6 months. If it's a minimum, just stick with that one if you like it.
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Bear in mind the very common event of Sham tenancy contracts. Double check statutory tenancy law as statutory law takes precedence over a contract.
 
I tell them I want to renew and keep renting, but i'm not willing to pay the fee. Worked fine at 2 estate agents.

It's a ridiculous fee, for essentially printing off a few pieces of paper and sending it to yourself, then the landlord.
 
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