Letting agents got sums wrong

ubern00b

ubern00b

ubern00b

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Hi all

I am moving in a property on the 10th October. I have just received our tenancy documents and a "Tenancy Fee Declaration" via email. I already had a "Tenancy Fee Declaration" which I signed when I handed over our initial "take it off the market" deposit.

Basically, they got their figures wrong. The individual figures are correct, it is just their adding up that is incorrect. They completely missed off their agency fees. This means I need to magic up another £700. I didn't look at the individual costs involved, only the total, as I simply do not care what the breakdown is, only what I could afford. I can still afford it, I am just fuming.

The reason for this post is to ask: Since I have a "Tenancy Fee Declaration" already which is signed by myself AND the estate agent, do I have any sort of come back? This is surely a legally binding document?

Yes, I am aware that I haven't signed the tenancy yet, I haven't moved in yet and it could be more of a headache trying to challenge this than just simply pay it but I am angry and am just asking the question.

Thank you for all helpful posts, since I know this is GD :p
 
You'd need to get a solicitor to look this over.

Simply having the wrong total at the bottom of a page when all the other numbers are correct is easily something that both parties should have picked up on.

When you're working out your affordability you should have been double checking those numbers. It's a cost outlined from the start that you've got to pay, regardless of what the total says.

In the states I'm sure you could get some gunho lawyer to make it go the other way, but here, not so convinced.

Also, lesson learned. "I am just fuming"... You should be fuming at yourself for not double checking the calculations of some random secretary somewhere.

I double check the calculations on every document I receive, especially when it's obvious it's not been created automatically and just copied into a word document or the likes. This saved me about £3K of fees (that I wouldn't have to claim back) when buying my house due to both the mortgage company and solicitor rounding up and adding crap on that I didn't need.

Force of habit now for anything that comes up more than £100.
 
why not phone them first and tell them about it... I mean you don't even know what their response is going to be yet - if it is a very obvious mistake then there isn't likely to be much drama
 
RoyMi6 said:
You'd need to get a solicitor to look this over.

Simply having the wrong total at the bottom of a page when all the other numbers are correct is easily something that both parties should have picked up on.

When you're working out your affordability you should have been double checking those numbers. It's a cost outlined from the start that you've got to pay, regardless of what the total says.

In the states I'm sure you could get some gunho lawyer to make it go the other way, but here, not so convinced.

Also, lesson learned. "I am just fuming"... You should be fuming at yourself for not double checking the calculations of some random secretary somewhere.

I double check the calculations on every document I receive, especially when it's obvious it's not been created automatically and just copied into a word document or the likes. This saved me about £3K of fees (that I wouldn't have to claim back) when buying my house due to both the mortgage company and solicitor rounding up and adding crap on that I didn't need.

Force of habit now for anything that comes up more than £100.
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I am fuming at myself, at them, at the whole situation. I am not trying to wriggle out of my commitments at all and I am not trying to shift blame. Quite correct both parties should have picked up on it.

I have calmed down somewhat now and decided just to give myself a rap on the knuckles and carry on regardless. No point in trying to sour a brand new relationship when we rely on these people for the next 12+ months.

dowie said:
why not phone them first and tell them about it... I mean you don't even know what their response is going to be yet - if it is a very obvious mistake then there isn't likely to be much drama
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I have called them. They couldn't give two hoots. "Yea well, it's all written down so you should have checked". I guess that is what made me more livid. A simple apology would go a long way. Ho hum.
 
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Actually you've got a pretty good leg to stand on. They've signed it off accepting the information therein as correct. That is their fault. The document is signed and legally binding saying you owe x.
Also...700 quid fees. Lol!
 
RoyMi6 said:
You'd need to get a solicitor to look this over.

Simply having the wrong total at the bottom of a page when all the other numbers are correct is easily something that both parties should have picked up on.
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Exactly, so it's both parties mistake, not just ubernoobs. Both parties have signed the agreemant as accepted. It could essentially go either way, phone them up and state that they have signed the agreement as complete and as such you are no more liable than they are now.
 
Any action on the matter wont be worth the time and money required, as the best possible outcome wont save you much/any cash. As Roy stated, if this was Murica, you could pay Saul to turn a good deal and make the other party look like sleazy criminals but i think over here, there is little benefit by taking this much further.

Take it to a solicitor just for a look over if you want to give them a scare for their rudeness but i cant imagine anyone will get a win out of this if you wanted to settle this without signing and paying the £700 off the bat.

Maybe you should charge them additional admin fees for wasting your time. :p
 
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Estate/Letting agents is legalized scamming. £650 of that is probably pure profit if all they're doing is processing and posting a few documents.
 
Don't get me started on the fees. Having looked at a number of properties all with different agents, they all charge the same or similar. This was fees for my girlfriend and myself. Not to mention a £120 a year fee for drawing up a new tenancy when there is no need, the original tenancy just goes onto a rolling contract (in my experience anyway). So yes, it is indeed legal extortion.
 
Request a breakdown of what specifically that particular £700 fee is for and where it goes. State it is because money is tight since it is an unexpected expense and you want to have the fee looked over by someone with a better professional understanding. They might take the hint that you are unhappy about paying it and may be more co-operative/polite in the future.
 
ubern00b said:
Don't get me started on the fees. Having looked at a number of properties all with different agents, they all charge the same or similar. This was fees for my girlfriend and myself. Not to mention a £120 a year fee for drawing up a new tenancy when there is no need, the original tenancy just goes onto a rolling contract (in my experience anyway). So yes, it is indeed legal extortion.
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Don't pay them? We refused to pay 400 and they lowered it to 150 when we rented.
 
Is this a one off charge? If so I've never heard of or seen a Letting agency fee, is there a breakdown of what the fees are for?

Seems a little scammy to me.
 
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