Letting Agency Fees - reasonable/justifiable?

Rich_L · 7 Jun 2012 at 12:55

As I thought and I can see the answer already "You were informed verbally and subsequently agreed that the reference check fee was non-refundable and did not guarantee tenancy" - prove it otherwise.

I think your main recourse now is the poo through the letterbox approach.

Haggisman · 7 Jun 2012 at 13:02

Rich_L said:
As I thought and I can see the answer already "You were informed verbally and subsequently agreed that the reference check fee was non-refundable and did not guarantee tenancy" - prove it otherwise.

I think your main recourse now is the poo through the letterbox approach.

I was thinking more like petrol

I'm thinking an email to the MD, followed by that letter, and see how it goes from there.

As most have said, it's not necessarily going to end well, but it can't hurt to try eh?

If all else fails I'll just have to plaster damning reviews over every website I can find XD

Rich_L · 7 Jun 2012 at 13:03

Well given your very young baby I imagine copious amounts of poo production shouldn't be a problem

*edit*

And yeah honestly I'd try and exhaust all non-legal options before going down that route and phrase it in a 'disappointed customer' way - you feel you were misled about the reference fees blah blah lay it on thick and who knows maybe you'll get a cheque in the mail at some point.

Haggisman · 7 Jun 2012 at 13:22

Rich_L said:
Well given your very young baby I imagine copious amounts of poo production shouldn't be a problem

*edit*

And yeah honestly I'd try and exhaust all non-legal options before going down that route and phrase it in a 'disappointed customer' way - you feel you were misled about the reference fees blah blah lay it on thick and who knows maybe you'll get a cheque in the mail at some point.

I wouldn't mind the fact they need another guarantor, if for whatever bizarre reason they deem our current one unacceptable, it's more the fact they want another £75 out of us for something I can't understand why they need it

I have the MD's email address anyway, so I'll try and negotiate it with him, will post back with results! *fingers crossed*

grumpysculler · 7 Jun 2012 at 13:43

Haggisman said:
I wouldn't mind the fact they need another guarantor, if for whatever bizarre reason they deem our current one unacceptable, it's more the fact they want another £75 out of us for something I can't understand why they need it

Need the extra £75....no

Want the extra £75.... yes

Can get it (with you or someone else).....probably yes

Kamwah · 7 Jun 2012 at 13:53

You don't argue with letting agents. You're not going to win.

Haggisman · 7 Jun 2012 at 14:12

grumpysculler said:
Need the extra £75....no

Want the extra £75.... yes

Can get it (with you or someone else).....probably yes

Unfortunately correct on all 3 points

However on their "about us" page they mention their reputation a lot and talk about how much business they get from referrals, so perhaps an appeal to their "well you don't want to ruin your reputation eh?" side, might work (or it might just be a load of bog standard marketing bull and pretentious rubbish)

Kamwah said:
You don't argue with letting agents. You're not going to win.

But at least I can set them on fire if I don't

Haggisman · 12 Jun 2012 at 11:40

And another update...

Just got off the phone from the MD.

Success!! We're getting a full refund of all of our fees

Bit of a pain as it means we have to keep looking, but at least we get it all back, and we know what to watch out for next time!

Edrof · 12 Jun 2012 at 12:31

Good news, well done! There are decent letting agents out there, so don't lose heart. My tip is to look for older, established companies and avoid anybody with a Tony & Guy haircut, fat tie knot and day-glo car. The latter just consider you to be a number.

Haggisman · 12 Jun 2012 at 14:00

I've been looking at some others.

£250 for first person (includes reference and admin fees), £50 for each additional adult, guarantor counts as an additional adult - £350 total

£175 for first person (includes reference and admin fees), £75 for each additional adult, guarantor doesn't need to pay a fee (although she didn't sound like she knew what she was doing!) £250 total

*sigh* might have to try Gumtree to go direct through landlord!