Letting agents reference fee.....is this normal?

R.O.S.S.I

R.O.S.S.I

R.O.S.S.I

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Is it normal for a lettings agent to ask for a fee when THEY have to provide a reference? (

Only asking because myself and my girlfriend have found an apartment which we've paid deposit on etc but our reference checks have been held up because they are seeking a reference from her current lettings agent, after phoning them up they won't give one without paying £24 for the privilege.

I'm not currently renting so they didn't try and seek one from me but is this normal? Seems a bit excessive, £24 just to say that she lived at the address she's put and was renting from them.
 
That reminds me it's nearly time for my contract renewal so that's another nice chunk of cash so that I can go all the way to their office and sign a new piece of paper.
 
This is very odd, I'm moving next week and on the letter I received from my letting agent that I'm leaving they have mentioned they'll charge £25 for giving a reference. It's a bloody joke!
 
tom_e said:
That reminds me it's nearly time for my contract renewal so that's another nice chunk of cash so that I can go all the way to their office and sign a new piece of paper.
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I paid 30 pounds foe the privilage of walking into their office, waiting untill they printed a copy of the letting contract, and signed it. All this for a change from a 12 month to a rolling contract.
 
Brookert said:
I paid 30 pounds foe the privilage of walking into their office, waiting untill they printed a copy of the letting contract, and signed it. All this for a change from a 12 month to a rolling contract.
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I'm pretty sure it was the same for me, except mine was just to go to another 12months so still guaranteeing them 12 months profit!
 
**** takers & it's legal. :mad:

I went to my bank tuther week to get a cheque for 25 quid for DVLA, No other way of paying you can't even use your card.
Bank charged me 10 quid when it took the bank teller less than a minute. Then she told me she would switch my account so that I'd receive a cheque book to use in the future. It now sits on my dining room table where it will never be used. RAGE :mad: + :p
 
Me and the girlfriend are currently going through the process.

Things we refused to pay (the extra deposits were on top of the normal security deposit.):
£20 each just for applying,
£20 each for referencing,
£100 extra 'cleaning deposit' wtf??
£200 extra 'pet deposit.'

Luckily for us the house we wanted was the owners home and we are letting whilst they are abroad for a length of time. The owners specifically wanted us in so we had a bit of leverage against paying these ridiculous extras.

Your default stance should be to tell them to get lost and take it from there.
 
Once your fixed term contract is up it automatically rolls onto a monthly rolling contract according to the Tenancy Act. Any letting agent that insists that you renew it (for a fee) is taking you for a ride.
 
Yep, it's a scam.

New agent will ask for a reference, old agent will then charge for a reference. New agent know that when you leave them to go to new new agent they'll also ask and then they'll get to charge.

LeeUK said:
Once your fixed term contract is up it automatically rolls onto a monthly rolling contract according to the Tenancy Act. Any letting agent that insists that you renew it (for a fee) is taking you for a ride.
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Not that I don't believe you, but have you got a link to prove that?
 
Its all con, letting agents are sub-human and will charge you for the priviledge of charging you, if you let them.
 
Westyfield2 said:
Yep, it's a scam.

New agent will ask for a reference, old agent will then charge for a reference. New agent know that when you leave them to go to new new agent they'll also ask and then they'll get to charge.



Not that I don't believe you, but have you got a link to prove that?
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I haven't a link but I'm sure Google will have something.

Once a short hold tenancy is up you automatically become statutory periodic tenant. E.g. the landlord still has to give you 2 month notice to leave if they want you out any time after the short hold tenancy has ended.
 
LeeUK said:
Once your fixed term contract is up it automatically rolls onto a monthly rolling contract according to the Tenancy Act. Any letting agent that insists that you renew it (for a fee) is taking you for a ride.
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Yes it becomes a statutory periodic tenancy but that means either party can serve one month's notice at any time.

A renewal is far better for the landlord and tenant as it guarantees a longer term for both, and therefore gives more security.

It's not a scam.
 
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