Letting Agency - References and Costs Question

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!

It may be that this is in connection with a Rental Guarantee Scheme that the agency has sold to the landlord and the checks are part of getting you accepted, still seems steep.

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.

forgot to say - old contract automatically becomes periodic, ie month to month, so new contract or agreement is not needed.

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 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.

Don't initiate a move. Call their bluff. Tell them you're very happy in the property but that you're not prepared to pay for pointless services. End of conversation. Do you know who the landlord is? If you do, tell him/her what's happening and that the agent is putting income from their property at risk because you'll move rather than pay.

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)

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.