Agents sneaking in unfair exit clauses?

Reply to the comment left by Cathie at 19/12/2025 – 12:46
Again it’s an unfair condition and one which would almost likely go in your favour under consumer rights. It is totally unsatisfactory for agents to be including this nonsense in contracts .

I am an agent and within my agreements all I ask is that a landlords provides me with one months notice and that all commission and any expenses I have paid out are paid within the months notice.
As I feel it is unfair as a landlord you should have a choice of agent and if they are a good agent you stick with them. Would rather have my reputation as a fair and honest agent be at the forefront of my business as this brings more business.

Reply to the comment left by Sheralyne Stamp at 19/12/2025 – 13:27
Very refreshing.
Are you reviewing your charging model in light of the RRA?

Reply to the comment left by DPT at 19/12/2025 – 13:43
NO, I am not changing anything my terms and conditions are remaining the same as I conduct all the relevant checks already including the safety checks, move in and out colour inventories. Arrange all repairs and oversee all property refurb. on occasion I will purchase as instructed new properties for my clients. My core values are commitment, professionalism and passion. I believe if I have a happy tenant then I have a happy client. I am fully registered and a certified practitioner with the CIH. To be honest the loss of S21 is not that bad as you would only want to evict a tenant for rent arrears , ASB, or serious breach which can be obtained by S8. If you have a good agent then the new regs should come under their remit anyway.

Once had an agent ask for a % if tenant bought the property, It was an a tenant find only service. Long story short, I gave then a choice of either remove the clause or I take my business elsewhere. They removed it from the contract. Ever since used a better estate agent and in the last 10 years, I can not fault them, they are fantastic.

Would highly recommend Screetons for South and East Yorkshire.

Print the terms, cross out any you disagree with then sign, make your own copy, and return. Then it is upto them to choose if they want to continue as your agent. As others say a term like that is not consistent with Unfair Trading Regulations 2000 (I think it is).

Reply to the comment left by Simon F at 19/12/2025 – 15:50
or…

Print the terms, cross out any you disagree with then sign, make your own copy, and return to the Agent along with a copy of the Unfair Trading Regulations and ‘advise’ that it’s not something you believe the TPO would regard either as a contract worthy of one of their members using….

I have also come across a letting agent that had a clause that if you sold the property to the tenant they could charge an ‘introduction fee’, equivalent to what an estate agent would charge. That got scrubbed out of the letting agreement and after that I self managed 18 properties.

I am looking a Leaders terms at present – Manchester, they have new management and are terrible now after years of decent service. There is one tenant on a rolling contract so it seems only 1 month notice is required. Otherwise their terms state you cant get rid of them until the tenancy ends. But what happens when RRA comes in and all AST become rolling, can I get rid of Leaders for all my flats? They also have a clause saying they can charge 24% on top of what the Contractors charge even if I get my own Contractor onto the job.

Reply to the comment left by Disgrunteld Landlady at 28/12/2025 – 13:15
My local letting agent was taken over by Leaders. I used to use the original agent as a ‘tenant finder’ but ditched Leaders from this service as they tried to tie me into things like if the tenant purchased the property from me I would have to pay Leaders an introduction fee as a percentage of the property price. Basically they can get stuffed and I found another agent for ‘tenant finding’. Doesn’t appy any more now though as I am selling up – 13 gone, 5 to go when the tenants leave