An agent in flood-devastated Carlise has apparently backed down on a hike in fees charged to tenants.
The agent said he made an error of judgment after staff worked 12-hour shifts.
The firm has now made a £2,500 donation to the Cumbria flood appeal and cut its fees.
It has also refunded the higher fees charged.
According to a story in the Mirror, Cumbria Properties had trebled its fees, from £110 to £600 ‘overnight’ at the weekend, as thousands of people were left homeless and needed rental accommodation.
The Mirror story says that one person who called the agent was staggered to be told of the price hike, but found that other local agents had kept their fees.
David Thomas accused the firm of ‘rank exploitation’.
According to the Mirror story, Adrian Hogarth at the agency admitted he had made a mistake.
He told the paper: “I made an error of judgement. I had staff who worked 12-hour shifts on Sunday.
“I made a decision to increase tenancy fees to cover the cost of staffing to get people into properties.
“I realised on Monday that I should not have done that, and we have donated £2,500 to the Cumbrian flood appeal, and have reduced the fees to £200 per property.
“We apologise for the bad feeling this has caused.”
He apparently told the Mirror some customers had been happy to pay the charges in order to find a home because his staff had worked so hard.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/storm-desmond-floods-estate-agent-6977178
Comments (6)
We were involved with trying to help flooded tenants 12 odd years ago down south – everything let straight, 100’s of phone calls every day and the office full of people wanting properties. Did we increase our fees to tenants? of course not. How callas would that be. A letting agent should be trying to build up a long term relationship with their clients not to make a fast buck.
Says a lot about the character of the bloke ….. How very opportunist and disappointing.
What possessed him to do it? This is the kind of stuff that gives us a bad name!!!
“He apparently told the Mirror some customers had been happy to pay the charges in order to find a home because his staff had worked so hard”
Agent: Our usual charge is £110, but because of the flooding we are working extra hard so its £600 until the water goes away.
Tenant: Brilliant, delighted to pay, thanks for all your help
Can’t really see that conversation happening to be honest
what a complete tit. could have waived the fee and the publicity would have given him pole position in the town. now I bet he will struggle to stay in business…..
Most business owners call a 12 hour shift “the working day” and usually don’t treble fees at the end of it. I’ll translate the for Mr Hogarth ” I’m greedy and was trying to make a quick buck after other peoples misery. I got found out and now I’m trying to back out gently … Soz”