The Mirror has started a new series, by an “undercover” first-time buyer who is desperate to escape their rented flat – and who criticises the “astronomical” fees charged by letting agents.
The author says: “As if the rent isn’t extortionate enough, letting agents demand astronomical payments for difficult tasks like printing a generic contract which contain irrelevant clauses such as gardening (not much use in a third-floor flat).
“They then say it will cost something like £30 for the privilege of removing each nonsensical and pointless clause. Farcical and exploitative.”
The writer also criticises agents for their inspections, saying: “Possibly the most degrading aspect of renting is having someone check up on us every few months.
“Apparently it’s to ensure you’re not scribbling all over the walls like a toddler or pulling down the kitchen cupboards.
“These inspections are always “part of the service to landlords and tenants”, but I’ve never known an inspection lead to any improvements for the tenant.
“Instead, I’ve found passive aggressive notes from agents saying “you must clean this”, like it’s a piece of homework.”
The flat in question is a one-bedroom home in a London suburb that costs £1,075 a month.
The writer says that rents are “ludicrously” high, bearing no reality to any other aspect of the economy, least of all pay, with nothing to stop rents being whacked up.
Your views would be welcome.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/undercover-first-time-buyer-im-7184351
Comments (2)
MF…they were speaking from a tenant perspective and therefore cannot really choose the agent….
Regarding the fees, in my area of Surrey/Middlesex, the report is pretty accurate if you take into the agents who all charge pretty similar for “not alot”…i.e. Romans, KFH, Townends, Chase Buchanan, Leaders, Hodders, Seymours , Foxtons….
Most of them charge £85 to the tenant AND Landlord for a renewal…i.e. printing off the same agreement and changing the dates …..what about deposit compliance? charging the landlord and tenant a sum of money which is probably about 600% more than they are being charged by the deposit providers….
I would suggest most of the bigger agents cause the problems for the smaller independents but their hunger for “inflated fees”.
It’s such a shame that one person can tarnish the entire industry based only on his own personal experience.
Our property inspection visits check for things like failed silicone sealants, functioning extractor fans, a visual check to roof and gutters, downpipes and drains.
We also check that gardens are being reasonably maintained.
And we asked the tenant to demonstrate any issues they may be experiencing, but have not got round to reporting.
We send a copy of the report to the landlord and the tenant.
And then we take instructions from the landlord which, most of the time, results in any necessary works being carried out.
It doesn’t often result in us having to raise issues with tenants as to their lifestyle, but when it does it usually relates to excessive condensation.
As for the complaint about charges being made by one particular agent, choose your agent carefully!
Do your research before entering into contractual obligations. There’s certainly no shortage of letting agents around – too many in fact.