31/10/2011 
lrs_keeper 
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1:30 pm
19/10/2011
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QuoteI went to my local L A meeting and was out raged to hear that agents are now charging tenants and landlords a fee to renew their contracts after six months.
Even as a regular a s t rolls on to a periodic contract they are now charging these fees and who benefits not the landlord nor the tenants but the agents.
It just adds to the bad name these agents what with all the bad press they are getting.
I am glad that I DONT use any agents to let my propertys.
I do feel sorry for tenant and landlords at being riped off yet again by agents
1:49 pm
23/07/2012
OfflineI agree with Paul, don't pay them it's just yet another underhand way they have come up with to line their pockets!
6:29 pm
17/05/2012
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Some years ago before internet was so popular I used to use an Agent for Let only. I paid 3 weeks rent plus VAT, advertising costs, board fee, referencing fees and provided my own Inventory and AST. I was happy to pay these fees until the day I found out from a new tenant that he has also been charged £250 standard charge, Referencing fee, fees for AST and Inventory!
Not only is this unfair on the tenant – I thought that I was paying for the Agents service not the tenant – it also means that a tenant had to find a couple of thousand pound in order to pay the deposit, first months rent and Agents fees and this was some years back - who on earth can afford that? These days I use an online Agent for let only and I pay £79 to get onto all the big sites until the property is let, this and the reduced lending rate has enabled me to hold my rents for several years.
Follow me on Twitter @landlordtweets
10:51 am
shep946@hotmail.co.uk said
I went to my local L A meeting and was out raged to hear that agents are now charging tenants and landlords a fee to renew their contracts after six months.Even as a regular a s t rolls on to a periodic contract they are now charging these fees and who benefits not the landlord nor the tenants but the agents.
It just adds to the bad name these agents what with all the bad press they are getting.
I am glad that I DONT use any agents to let my propertys.
I do feel sorry for tenant and landlords at being riped off yet again by agents
Agents have got to earn a living. However renewal fees are off because they weaken the landlords position. Only renew if you have a specific reason to renew – periodic is far better.
I know a local agency that charges both landlord and tenant for renewals, and also charges tenants a move-out fee!
12:46 pm
15/12/2011
OfflineSimon Topple, Toppro said
shep946@hotmail.co.uk said
I went to my local L A meeting and was out raged to hear that agents are now charging tenants and landlords a fee to renew their contracts after six months.Even as a regular a s t rolls on to a periodic contract they are now charging these fees and who benefits not the landlord nor the tenants but the agents.
It just adds to the bad name these agents what with all the bad press they are getting.
I am glad that I DONT use any agents to let my propertys.
I do feel sorry for tenant and landlords at being riped off yet again by agents
Agents have got to earn a living. However renewal fees are off because they weaken the landlords position. Only renew if you have a specific reason to renew – periodic is far better.
I know a local agency that charges both landlord and tenant for renewals, and also charges tenants a move-out fee!
That's appalling if they charge tenants a move-out fee. What if they refuse to pay the move out fee are they kept a prisoner or do they take the easy option and do a moonlight flit ???
1:00 pm
17/05/2012
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Simon Topple, Toppro said
shep946@hotmail.co.uk said
I went to my local L A meeting and was out raged to hear that agents are now charging tenants and landlords a fee to renew their contracts after six months.Even as a regular a s t rolls on to a periodic contract they are now charging these fees and who benefits not the landlord nor the tenants but the agents.
It just adds to the bad name these agents what with all the bad press they are getting.
I am glad that I DONT use any agents to let my propertys.
I do feel sorry for tenant and landlords at being riped off yet again by agents
Agents have got to earn a living. However renewal fees are off because they weaken the landlords position. Only renew if you have a specific reason to renew – periodic is far better.
I know a local agency that charges both landlord and tenant for renewals, and also charges tenants a move-out fee!
This sort of thing causes resentment and when a tenant feels rensentment he/she is less likely to care how they leave a property. Mutual respect is what works best in the PRS and that includes being respectful of a tenants financial situation.
Follow me on Twitter @landlordtweets
9:45 am
As already mentioned, agents do need to make a living. I am primarily a landlord but also manage for other like-minded landlords in the North East. We treat our landlords properties and tenants as we do our own and ensure a personal service.
I agree it is not reasonable for an agent to charge a renewal fee which is aligned to a tenant find (Many do). However there is an element of administration, paperwork, compliance etc required and I beleive they are therefore agents are entitled to charge a fee. We charge a small one-off flat fee for this service or if the tenancy goes into periodic we do not charge anything -because we have done nothing!
I think the confusion comes in the terminology used. To me, a renewal is just that, a new or extended agreement. How can the default position of a tenancy going into periodic be termed a renewal? This is what many of the traditional agents rely on – and one of the reasons why our landlords come to us.
9:25 pm
12/10/2011
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You are correct an AST that proceeds onto a SPT is still part of the original agreement.
No charge can be made as if a tenant remains and a LL says nothing the tenancy is presumed to have converted into a SPT.
That is what the law states.
From the perspective of common courtesy most tenants will advise what their intentions are.
There is however NO requirement to give any notice whatsoever despite what might be in the AST conditions.
An unfair and illegal term CANNOT be enforced irrespective of whether the tenant signed the AST or not.
Too few LA and LL seem to understand the law in this respect.
I know tenants who have been bamboozled by these circumstances and due to concern over good references and deposit return they have complied reluctantly with these illegal conditions.
Most tenants are not aware of their rights.
Life is too short to know all the stuff they need to know.
Therefore they tend to rely on LL and LA being honourable.
Not a very helpful strategy as far as they are concerned but they are busy people trying to keep things together.
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