Tenancy Renewal - Letting Agents taking the ****

dl8860 · 9 Feb 2015 at 18:01

It's roughly 11 months since I moved into my current flat and I with a 12 month contract I mentioned to the landlord the other day that we'd be happy to renew and stay for another year. The letting arrangement is that the flat was let by an estate agent, but they do not manage the let a.k.a. all correspondence is direct between me and the landlord and he covers costs directly.

So a few days after having spoken to the landlord I get an email from the estate agents (who we paid £400 at the start of the let 11 months ago) asking for £150 + VAT from me for the processing of all documents and completion of this renewal.

Is this as expected? Seems like a massive double dip from the estate agents where they charge both us and the landlords for a bit of photocopying. Is this something I am able to get out of?

wez130 · 9 Feb 2015 at 18:03

~Surely if it's not a managed let, as you describe, it's between you and your landlord, your landlord would only have paid the estate agent for the letting alone inc. inventories etc.

Dis86 · 9 Feb 2015 at 18:04

When I rented all fees apart from our credit check were on the landlord...

Johno please? · 9 Feb 2015 at 18:10

OMG £150 PLUS VAT!?!?! That sounds like a weird situation.... mine is totally managed by letting agents and I only speak to them.

I used to pay £50 for contract renewal, now its £60 because they felt like earning an extra ten pounds from everyone. Utter scum.

Im assuming you're in london? If so, theres your answer.

Mr Jack · 9 Feb 2015 at 18:19

Did you sign a document that states that they can take this money? Did they send you communications indicating that they will take this money for renewal?

If the answer to either is yes then you probably need to pay up. It's a complete scam, of course, but estate agents have a captive market and can be basically as abusive as they like. It's possible you could challenge it in court since there's an argument they're misrepresenting the costs but it probably would be too much hassle to be worth it and, IANAL so I don't know what your chances would be.

Puzzled · 9 Feb 2015 at 18:21

Speak to the landlord but another option is just to leave the tenancy as is and then at the end it will switch to a periodic tenancy.

Did it in my last two places, I refuse to give rip off letting agents money if it can be avoided so just ignored their letters and let the tenancy go to a month to month contract.

Edit: As above check your contract first.

Jono8 · 9 Feb 2015 at 18:27

MonkeyMan said:
Speak to the landlord but another option is just to leave the tenancy as is and then at the end it will switch to a periodic tenancy.

Did it in my last two places, I refuse to give rip off letting agents money if it can be avoided so just ignored their letters and let the tenancy go to a month to month contract.

Edit: As above check your contract first.

I did this when we used to rent. After the first year I phoned the landlord directly and we agreed to let it just go into a rolling tenancy, which meant we both escaped the ridiculous letting agent fees.

Skeeter · 9 Feb 2015 at 18:34

If your drawing up another 12 month contract then it will involve some admin work which is probably what this fee is for.

However, doing absolutely nothing means your contract automatically rolls into being a periodic contract (providing neither of you have served notice obviously). This is free and automatic so will have no fees.

Check what your agreeing too before challenging the charge. If you sign anything then your entering a new contract, whereas moving to a periodic doesn't require any signing of anything.

Jono8 · 9 Feb 2015 at 18:35

Skeeter said:
If your drawing up another 12 month contract then it will involve some admin work which is probably what this fee is for.

£150 to change "2014" to "2015" on the contract most likely....

Puzzled · 9 Feb 2015 at 18:46

Jono8 said:
£150 to change "2014" to "2015" on the contract most likely....

Don't forget the cost of the ink in the pen when they sign the "new" contract.

gettothechopper · 9 Feb 2015 at 18:51

Just do rolling monthly instead - they can't charge you for it - I argued my £80 renewal down to £15 when I pointed out all they are doing is updating a date on last years contract and pressing print

In the end bought a place because of scumbag letting agents taking the peepee

el_dazza · 9 Feb 2015 at 18:55

Good info on the rolling contract, wouldn't have known that when ours is due in August. Thanks

Adam · 9 Feb 2015 at 19:14

Worst experience in the world renting a house and dealing with letting agents. Never thought I'd experience a profession less capable than estate agents.

Lunawolfy · 9 Feb 2015 at 20:06

I don't know about England, but in Scotland these fees are illegal.

Drop Shelter an email they are HUGELY helpful at residential law issues and often have a great wee PDF to email you

Lunawolfy · 9 Feb 2015 at 20:08

Aah looks like this is legal in England, sad times

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_a...sts_of_renting/letting_agent_fees_and_charges

Diddums · 9 Feb 2015 at 20:32

I've paid this every year for the last 6 years. Sadly there's no escaping it unless the landlord cuts them out.

Judgeneo · 9 Feb 2015 at 20:36

That is extortionate, we paid £90, but could have had a rolling tenancy if we wanted.

FARGO · 9 Feb 2015 at 20:39

Same as above. Over £500 so far. Estate agent is at the end of the road.

Rage.

Skeeter · 9 Feb 2015 at 20:42

Diddums said:
I've paid this every year for the last 6 years. Sadly there's no escaping it unless the landlord cuts them out.

6 years in the same house?

Edrof · 9 Feb 2015 at 20:44

I think mine is about thirty quid.