Letting Agency - References and Costs Question
Discussion
I'm just coming to the end of a year tenancy agreement. My letting agency have said that if I want to now go month to month (which I do) I have to pay £180 for re-referencing.
Seems very steep and also totally not required as I have been a perfect tenant.
So - is this a normal charge or taking the piss?
Thanks
Gary
Seems very steep and also totally not required as I have been a perfect tenant.
So - is this a normal charge or taking the piss?
Thanks
Gary
Does seem far too steep.
But then Mine tried to charge me £80 for a credit scoring (times 2 as the GF had to get one too)
I argued it down to the cost of one, they are readily availible for less than 20 quid for the full blown everything listed one. (not the £1 ones you see advertised everywhere!)
But then Mine tried to charge me £80 for a credit scoring (times 2 as the GF had to get one too)
I argued it down to the cost of one, they are readily availible for less than 20 quid for the full blown everything listed one. (not the £1 ones you see advertised everywhere!)
garyhun said:
davidjpowell said:
taking the piss. Agent has to do nothing, and worst he can do is serve you with 2 months notice. These kind of agents make my blood boil!
Yep - my thoughts exactly.Ah well.... time to move again I think!
Thanks to both of you for your feedback!
Make it clear that you are happy to stay and see no reason for the charge if its just to re-issue a contract, if all else fails request a discussion with the landlord directly, in the current market landlords DO NOT want good tenants leaving.
dibblecorse said:
garyhun said:
davidjpowell said:
taking the piss. Agent has to do nothing, and worst he can do is serve you with 2 months notice. These kind of agents make my blood boil!
Yep - my thoughts exactly.Ah well.... time to move again I think!
Thanks to both of you for your feedback!
Make it clear that you are happy to stay and see no reason for the charge if its just to re-issue a contract, if all else fails request a discussion with the landlord directly, in the current market landlords DO NOT want good tenants leaving.
I hate Castles they are a bunch of thieving bastids.
Every time I have to deal with them its hassle. Undoubtedly the most inept firm on earth.
When I first moved in there was a shopping trolley in the garden. I got rid of it and they tried to tell me I was going to loose the deposit as the trolley was listed on the inventory. And not that it matters but it had a broken wheel an the pound had been stolen (Coventry)
And there is this new rule that £50 notes are not valid form of paying rent. This stupid bint simply refused to accept the notes. I asked for anything in the contract or any signs in the office showing this rule but surprise surprise there wasn't one. I tried explaining that I have paid before in 50s but its like smashing your head against a brick wall. she even asked me to go to the cash point. I was actually smirking at the idea of trying to withdraw hundreds of pounds just because the notes were a 'scary' colour.
It was at this point I asked her to write out a signed statement explaining that I came in with the correct sum of legal tender which she refused to accept. She physically began to write the letter, which completely astounded me, when the manager showed up. All was sorted but man I hate them.
But back on topic. Time to renew contracts and they tried to charge me a £40 fee for 'referencing'. Sure you know how this rant will go so I will spare you and a make a coffee.
Every time I have to deal with them its hassle. Undoubtedly the most inept firm on earth.
When I first moved in there was a shopping trolley in the garden. I got rid of it and they tried to tell me I was going to loose the deposit as the trolley was listed on the inventory. And not that it matters but it had a broken wheel an the pound had been stolen (Coventry)
And there is this new rule that £50 notes are not valid form of paying rent. This stupid bint simply refused to accept the notes. I asked for anything in the contract or any signs in the office showing this rule but surprise surprise there wasn't one. I tried explaining that I have paid before in 50s but its like smashing your head against a brick wall. she even asked me to go to the cash point. I was actually smirking at the idea of trying to withdraw hundreds of pounds just because the notes were a 'scary' colour.
It was at this point I asked her to write out a signed statement explaining that I came in with the correct sum of legal tender which she refused to accept. She physically began to write the letter, which completely astounded me, when the manager showed up. All was sorted but man I hate them.
But back on topic. Time to renew contracts and they tried to charge me a £40 fee for 'referencing'. Sure you know how this rant will go so I will spare you and a make a coffee.
CrashTD said:
I hate Castles they are a bunch of thieving bastids.
Every time I have to deal with them its hassle. Undoubtedly the most inept firm on earth.
When I first moved in there was a shopping trolley in the garden. I got rid of it and they tried to tell me I was going to loose the deposit as the trolley was listed on the inventory. And not that it matters but it had a broken wheel an the pound had been stolen (Coventry)
And there is this new rule that £50 notes are not valid form of paying rent. This stupid bint simply refused to accept the notes. I asked for anything in the contract or any signs in the office showing this rule but surprise surprise there wasn't one. I tried explaining that I have paid before in 50s but its like smashing your head against a brick wall. she even asked me to go to the cash point. I was actually smirking at the idea of trying to withdraw hundreds of pounds just because the notes were a 'scary' colour.
It was at this point I asked her to write out a signed statement explaining that I came in with the correct sum of legal tender which she refused to accept. She physically began to write the letter, which completely astounded me, when the manager showed up. All was sorted but man I hate them.
But back on topic. Time to renew contracts and they tried to charge me a £40 fee for 'referencing'. Sure you know how this rant will go so I will spare you and a make a coffee.
PHEW - I've obviously opened a can of worms for some Every time I have to deal with them its hassle. Undoubtedly the most inept firm on earth.
When I first moved in there was a shopping trolley in the garden. I got rid of it and they tried to tell me I was going to loose the deposit as the trolley was listed on the inventory. And not that it matters but it had a broken wheel an the pound had been stolen (Coventry)
And there is this new rule that £50 notes are not valid form of paying rent. This stupid bint simply refused to accept the notes. I asked for anything in the contract or any signs in the office showing this rule but surprise surprise there wasn't one. I tried explaining that I have paid before in 50s but its like smashing your head against a brick wall. she even asked me to go to the cash point. I was actually smirking at the idea of trying to withdraw hundreds of pounds just because the notes were a 'scary' colour.
It was at this point I asked her to write out a signed statement explaining that I came in with the correct sum of legal tender which she refused to accept. She physically began to write the letter, which completely astounded me, when the manager showed up. All was sorted but man I hate them.
But back on topic. Time to renew contracts and they tried to charge me a £40 fee for 'referencing'. Sure you know how this rant will go so I will spare you and a make a coffee.
davidjpowell said:
forgot to say - old contract automatically becomes periodic, ie month to month, so new contract or agreement is not needed.
Thanks. I've been a landlord myself so am aware of this. It just makes me laugh that the letter from the LA states "you can continue on a month by month periodic tenancy if new references are obtained ad pass".selmahoos said:
Different agents, different practices. Some make a selling point out of their lack of fees/charges/add-ons/etc etc. And it's far from the case that the better agencies have more (or higher) fees. We tend to think the absence of them encourages referral. Works for us.
I'd agree with that!Elskeggso said:
I recently went month to month rather than another 6/12 month agreement. The agent actually suggested going month to month as it didn't cost anything.
They are b
ds some of them, aren't they! Luckily I always look at small print and question everything - in this case good job too! garyhun said:
davidjpowell said:
taking the piss. Agent has to do nothing, and worst he can do is serve you with 2 months notice. These kind of agents make my blood boil!
Yep - my thoughts exactly.Ah well.... time to move again I think!
Thanks to both of you for your feedback!
Is your rent paid by Direct Debit? Be careful that they don't just charge you (because what they are trying to do WILL be in your original contract; it's very common thesedays as another way of generating income which isn't shared with the property owner)
V8mate said:
garyhun said:
davidjpowell said:
taking the piss. Agent has to do nothing, and worst he can do is serve you with 2 months notice. These kind of agents make my blood boil!
Yep - my thoughts exactly.Ah well.... time to move again I think!
Thanks to both of you for your feedback!
Is your rent paid by Direct Debit? Be careful that they don't just charge you (because what they are trying to do WILL be in your original contract; it's very common thesedays as another way of generating income which isn't shared with the property owner)
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 4th April 16:00
FMV said:
As a landlord this is a completely new one on me. My tenants just roll straight into a monthly agreement at the end of the short tenure agreement. I see no need for the agent to get involved.
It's just a contrived way for agents to maintain a revenue stream from properties which are not re-let to new tenants each year. They just dress it up as 'landlord services' when, in fact, the landlord receives no benefit from the exercise.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff