Bison

So my mother has been renting a property for the last 5 years and has never had to pay an admin fee when it came to renewing her tenancy contract.

So first thing, are the agents legally allowed to charge 34.50 for writing a letter to my mum asking her to renew?

Secondly there is this one cow there who is always rude to my mum during inspections and has harrassed my mum by calling her 7 times in 3 days chasing the said 34.50 admin fee which my mum refuses to pay on principal.

So any advice, what can be done?

Bison

Charismatic

Get the landlord to weigh in asking them to drop the fee or he'll not list with them again?

Seems a bit silly anyway since I thought letting agents made their money from fees charged to landlords not tenants?

BangleMan

Suggest she sees what is written in her tenancy contract, and if its mentioned in there she cant really complain...

Bison

And what about the 7 calls in 3 days that are continuing?

Spugsy

nope we had to pay about the same when we renewed agreements, that\s just the way it is.

BangleMan

if she owes it, arent they just chasing the money ?

Sky Blue

I can hear that 80's piano now...

BangleMan

whatever happened to Bruce Horsnby and his Range ?

Sky Blue

Not much really its the new way of landlords and agents making a few more quid when you renew your lease, well some agents in london now charge about 300 quid for the privelege...

highways

I renewed my current tenancy agreement many times without paying any fee. However, I think I had to pay a fee to renew my previous contract with a different agent few years ago as far as I remember. It probably varies from contract to contract but I'm not sure if there is a law about it.

Spugsy

some things will never change!

Razzy

Its outrageous. Under the terms and conditions of the tenancy your mother will have the right of "quiet enjoyment". Furthermore if she has an Assured Shorthold or Assured Tenancy she does not need to renew it - it becomes a periodic tenancy automatically once the original term has been served. If she doesnt renew for a fixed term the only risk is of the landlord serving a two month notice. He has the right to do this to seek to end the tenancy without any reason. This is usually only done where its not an investor landlord and they really do need it back for personal use or sale.

I recommend writing to the landlord - (it is obligatory to show the landlords name and address on the tenancy agreement so she should have these details). I would cc the agent. They should be advised that you believe that the agent is breaking the terms of your mothers agreement under clause x - breaching her right of quiet enjoyment at the inspection visits and because of her behaviour and that the agents are demanding money from her for renewals. Explain that this is causing much stress and anxiety to the extent that she has considered not renewing at all because of the conduct of this agent. Send both letters by recorded delivery. The agents probably dont have any worthwhile complaints policy but the owner of the property is their bread and butter so if he takes his business elsewhere then good.

Spugsy

as I said, we had to pay about that every 6 months when we renewed, we contacted the landlord and he said that it was up to the company, they sorted contracts and fees.

Don't forget you usually pay a fee when you first get the place as well, we paid a months rent as a fee to the ****ers.

Slingshot

I fired mine and now do it all myself - agents generally turn out to be crap if you have a problem with the tenancy
I got sick of paying them a monthly premium for management for doing sweet FA

Cham128

might be worth asking this in the moneysavingexpert.com forums, that's where the whole bank charges thing started and so you may even start a revolution.

I can't see how they can justify that cost though unless it's legal fees, which it shouldn't be as the contracts are fairly standard... I think your mum should charge them for her time wasted trying to get this signed.