Letting agent fees?

[Flame]

I remember someone saying that they are a letting agent or work for one?
I was just wondering what the normal fees are that you pay to a letting agent when you want to rent a house as i believe that my brother is about to be taken for a ride with the fees.

Anyone got any ideas on the average fees?

Thanks

 

[Emmylou]

Hiya - I'm the Letting Agent *puffs out chest then ducks to avoid anything that may get thrown*

Standard fee's depend on the area - we have a Referencing & Adminsitration Fee which is £80 + VAT (£94.00) per applicant (to be detailed on the Tenancy Agreement) - we're in East Midlands so cheaper than in say London for example. EDIT: Just noticed you're in Nottingham - we're Derby - who's the agent (PM me if you like).

Deposit is usually either one months rent or one months rent plus £100 depending again on the agent.

First months rent is paid on the day you move in - should really be in cleared funds (cash/ bankers draft), and is paid monthly in advance.

What kind of fee's are they asking?

 

[Flame]

Hi

Thanks for replying Emmylou. That is what i thought they would be but my brother has been told its

£100 - to take property off the market
£595 x2 for 1st months rent and deposit
£100 - For keys
£280 - for checks

I think that is it all the ones he said.

I think this is stupid money! Since never when i have rented in the past have i had to pay for keys before or that amount of money for checks.

 

[Emmylou]

£100 for keys & £280 for checks!!! In the words of the nan on Catherine Tate - what a f*ing liberty!!!

Sounds like a p*ss take to me!! The admin fee (to take property off the market) & the deposit etc all sound fine though.

Is the £100 for keys a key deposit - i.e. will they get it back at the end when the keys are returned?

As for the checks - some of the agents charge for an inventory check - but I would have thought that would be £150 tops (& usually cost shared between tenant & landlord) - £280 is a joke to me!

Think he should check out what other agents will charge, has he got his heart set on that property though?

 

[Flame]

Apprently he does get the money back for the keys as long as they are "taken care of" does sound a little odd to me though, surely if you loose keys you get a new set recut?

He and his mate claim that they have checked other agents and they are the same or more but i dont believe him, he doesnt like to be told he is wrong.

I dont think it is a house he has his heart set on even though it is a nice but small house, i think it is more a quick move thing cause he is still living at my parents.