Lettings Agents

[Cityfan100]

What is the best way to rid oneself of the scandalous fees charged by lettings agents several years into a letting? For example, my girlfriend has had a tennant for 3 years and is about to renew for a forth. The agency charges her 8% and him about �60 for the renewal. Neither of them, understandably want to pay them any more. Any ideas/experience as to how to get round this? I think the agent has had his slice and its time for the gravy train to stop (its not a managed property - they simply introduced the tennant in the first place).

[Loosehead]

Just fire them! Give them the requisite notice, tell your tennant what's happenning and cooperate together to ensure you get shot of the agancy then continue without them. There is very little they can do if you abide by the contract. These are parasites, I'm shocked they exist in this form at all.

[braeside]

just a word of caution - if ever you have a problem with a tennant or he/she decides to stop paying the rent - its the agent who does the dirty work. my agent is 10% and worth it
and of course the fees are tax ductable

[Sugar Ray]

I agreed with my agent no renewal fee - they were a bit funny at first but they are not going to turn away business. I

At least your has been rented out so you can't complain - just take it on the chin

[WoWo]

The are no mugs either, somewhere there in a contract you have signed there is likely to be a clause that you can't do what you are proposing, at least not immediately after terminating the contract with them.

[Cityfan100]

That is the reason for the question - of course thee is an agreement and I'm trying to circumnavigate it! Any sassy lawyers out there??

[themas]

What does the agreement say about termination? If it says nothing then it ought to be possible to terminate on reasonable notice because it should be seen as unreasonable to have a contract which just continues indefinitely without any means of ending it.

If there is a termination clause, unless you could succeed in arguing it is an unfair term you have to abide by it, or risk them coming after you with a claim for breach of contract.