Unreasonable charges

Reply to the comment left by “Luke P” at “06/02/2016 – 15:09“:

If the landlord is self managing the property then I think £25 is reasonable. I doubt I could find an agent who would write to me to remind me that the tenancy is coming to an end, amending the deposit protection certificate and issuing this to for me for less.

Reply to the comment left by “S.E. Landlord” at “06/02/2016 – 15:13“:

I would agree. I suspect a number wouldn’t.

This is what I love about these threads, every cage gets rattled!
Makes everyone think about everyone elses stand point, and if the services offered from one organisation may be better done ‘in house’.
Just because a person isn’t ‘trained’ in something, doesn’t mean they are not capable of doing it just as well, if not better! Lets face it, when you are dealing with properties that you own, you take more care.
Everything can be learned via the internet these days……and superb web sites like this. I always learn from the comments on here, good or bad.

Reply to the comment left by “S.E. Landlord” at “06/02/2016 – 15:00“:

Thank you everyone for your comments.
Firstly, I am not self managing – I said I used to and only registered the deposit once in the whole of the tenants stay.
When I started with this agency (with this tenant) they charged me £72 (including VAT) for the deposit registration – which was a shock when I knew it was a 10 minute job!
I now pay the agency £81 per month to the agency.
I know £25 is nothing but it really is the principle of it – I feel I’ve paid my dues in the first registration (which I feel was a high price having done it myself) and feel I shouldn’t have to pay anymore.
I really was just asking if other people have to do this and if it was reasonable. I didn’t mean people to get upset with each other.

How much?!
Oh good lord, I see why you are so upset! That is a shocking amount of money on BOTH counts!
I run and manage nearly 30 properties of my own, by myself, it’s really not that hard if you are organized. Although I’m now thinking of hiring myself out under the guise of an Estate Agent!
Oh, and don’t worry about people getting upset, we all think we are right! You just need to cherry pick the advice you feel best helps you.
Good luck.

Reply to the comment left by “Luke P” at “06/02/2016 – 14:48“:

Luke, I think I would change you analogy: to read something like:

“What do you mean Mr Hotel Manager…so you’re telling me the towels, shampoo and the lighting isn’t included in the price?

If you’re a managing agent then you’re managing the tenancy. I think most landlords could be forgiven for thinking that managing a tenancy includes basic administration.

Would you charge extra if a tenant’s direct debit was returned so payment wasn’t received that then resulted in you having to contact the tenant to request payment?

Reply to the comment left by “Deborah Smith” at “06/02/2016 – 19:22“:

As I said in an earlier comment, if the agent was managing the property I would expect it to be included in the monthly charge. I would be inclined to ask for a copy of the agreement setting out what services were and were not included and consider a change of agents on tenant renewal.

Thank you S.E. Landlord an excellent bit of advice I think I may well move on from them once tenancies come to an end (I have two properties with them).

As the letting agent is the professional, and vastly more experience than the LL client, a list of what is, and WHAT IS NOT included would be useful from them.

Yes that might be a long list, but if they have a set charge, then it is easy for them to do.

In a hotel if breakfast or car parking was NOT included, I would expect that to be made very clear.

Reply to the comment left by “Chris Byways” at “07/02/2016 – 10:12“:

To be clear on my opinion, I think £25 is perhaps a bit steep for this job and understand Deborah’s point to a certain degree and understand many of the previous points of view.

However, logic would dictate you should expect the very opposite…anything NOT listed should NOT be expected. When you buy a jacket, you don’t expect a scarf and gloves to come with it unless that is made very clear.