agent reference fees?

Nodiggidy123 · 18 Jul 2009 at 09:59

we gave our notice to move home this week to another letting agent.

anyway today i get a letter from my current landlord saying he will not provide a reference for the new agen unless we pay 25+vat.

anyone heard of this before?

Glaucus · 18 Jul 2009 at 10:11

stupid amount but yes. IIRC they can charge an admin fee.

meghatronic · 18 Jul 2009 at 10:12

Few threads on landlordzone about it. Short of it is they can charge you whatever they like, apparently. Some people have been charged 10x what you are being. ******* disgusting.

In my experience, letting agents are evil, lazy ******* - and I've worked with car salesmen!

Nodiggidy123 · 18 Jul 2009 at 10:15

do letting agents like burning all there bridges? if they had the right property i would have stayed with them. but now after trying something like this on i wouldnt even go back to them in the future.

meghatronic · 18 Jul 2009 at 10:32

Nodiggidy123 said:
do letting agents like burning all there bridges? if they had the right property i would have stayed with them. but now after trying something like this on i wouldnt even go back to them in the future.

They don't care. I dated a letting agent once, she basically said they've guaranteed new tenants - so they don't care if they **** off existing customers. Most resign fees I've had have been very close to new sign fees - so they don't really lose out.