Renting a flat, is it normal...

[RB Will]

I am looking into renting a flat at the moment. I have looked at a rather nice one.
My only worry is I have to fill out an application for renting which carries all my details bank etc and there is a £150 application fee, which will not be refunded if my application is not successful and somebody else who was looking at the flat gets it.
Is this normal practice or a bit cheeky? The agent is called Castle and Bridges. Has anyone here had any dealing with them before?
The only thing I can find about them on the internet is this http://www.ourproperty.co.uk/directory/16211.html and this gives a different address to the one on the paperwork they gave me at the viewing.
Am I being paranoid and a tight git with the pennies or does this seem a bit iffy?
Cheers

[fullbeem]

Yup its normal for the agent to demand a fee for the application. Mine wasnt as high as £150 however.

[Vesuvius 996]

Bit of a pi55take but normal.

[CR]

The place we just got went as follows:

£500 holding deposit (only refundable if the landlord/agents pulled out)

£150 admin fee (reference check etc)

£35 credit check

Then the 6 weeks rent as a deposit and a months rent in advance I think it was, obviously minus the initial £500 laid out.

Don't expect any sort of service once you have handed over all your cash though, that's all they give a toss about!

[V6]

it is normal to request a fee but never has mine been non refundable unless you decide not to take the flat. it is taking the pi$$ for them to not let you have it back because someone else got there first..

[RB Will]

But was the admin fee etc refundable if you were not successful with the application?
The woman who took us around yesterday said there were another couple coming today to look so I am not guaranteed this flat yet they still want a non refundable £150 off me.
I would not be bothered if we were not chosen that I got the money or at least most of it back, It just seems a lot for what could be nothing.

[Vesuvius 996]

RB Will said:

But was the admin fee etc refundable if you were not successful with the application?
The woman who took us around yesterday said there were another couple coming today to look so I am not guaranteed this flat yet they still want a non refundable £150 off me.
I would not be bothered if we were not chosen that I got the money or at least most of it back, It just seems a lot for what could be nothing.

They will say they do the work, so they want paying for it.

If you want the flat you'll have to suck it up.


Sorry.

[madrob6]

My deposit and admin fee came to a wopping total of £800 on a 1 bedroom flat so yes very normal.

[CR]

RB Will said:

But was the admin fee etc refundable if you were not successful with the application?
The woman who took us around yesterday said there were another couple coming today to look so I am not guaranteed this flat yet they still want a non refundable £150 off me.
I would not be bothered if we were not chosen that I got the money or at least most of it back, It just seems a lot for what could be nothing.

You tell the letting agent how much you want to offer for the rental price, put your deposit holding deposit down and, if it is accepted, then you should fill the forms. At least this is what I had to do when letting through an agent?

Edited by CR on Friday 3rd October 11:35

[missliv]

RB Will said:

But was the admin fee etc refundable if you were not successful with the application?
The woman who took us around yesterday said there were another couple coming today to look so I am not guaranteed this flat yet they still want a non refundable £150 off me.
I would not be bothered if we were not chosen that I got the money or at least most of it back, It just seems a lot for what could be nothing.

I think you could probably argue that this is effectively a charge simply for showing you a place, which is unlawful.

[onlynik]

Never ever had to do this/ pay for this in a flat.

Only fees I've had to pay is for teh inventory, split 50/50 with the agent.

Credit checks done for free too.

[Vesuvius 996]

missliv said:

RB Will said:

But was the admin fee etc refundable if you were not successful with the application?
The woman who took us around yesterday said there were another couple coming today to look so I am not guaranteed this flat yet they still want a non refundable £150 off me.
I would not be bothered if we were not chosen that I got the money or at least most of it back, It just seems a lot for what could be nothing.

I think you could probably argue that this is effectively a charge simply for showing you a place, which is unlawful.

When did you qualify?


They can charge what they want, when they want. If you don't like it, find another agent.


It's a fee for administration involved in yuor application.

[lingus75]

Christ, thats a rip-off! Non-refundable if your application doesn't go through? Call me a cynic but I wonder how many times these fail

I paid £75 plus a £20 credit check a couple of years ago for my flat but that is way pricey.