Consultation on banning letting agent fees

[R0b]

Not sure if this has already been posted, though I did look search for one but couldn't find anything.

The Government has opened up a consultation on the proposal to ban letting agent fees that must be paid by tenants - I know I will be giving my say on this, particularly some agents who operate extortionate fees!

https://www.gov.uk/government/consul...aid-by-tenants

[Crazy council]

Re: Consultation on banning letting agent fees

I would be against the ban, but limiting them, or making sure the charges equal good value, is better. Fees for between £ 100 and £ 300 depending on what docs need doing is fair.

I fully understand that some overcharge, and maybe they need limiting, but, a lot depend on the fees to keep the charge % down

[R0b]

Re: Consultation on banning letting agent fees

I personally disagree and think we should go the same route as Scotland in banning all fees and I don't particularly think that there will be a huge hike in rent, if any.

As a worst case scenario, I would say letting agents should only be able to charge a maximum of up to £100 for the full application which would include all necessary checks, references, inventory fees etc. There are many letting agents I have come across who charge both the landlord and tenant for the same things and in effect creates a double recovery/profit for them.

If we only banned letting agents from charging fees I suspect they will no doubt open up a loophole whereby they will simply set up a third party company and then charge for services that way, which means the ban on fees would effectively become void.

Just my personal experience on all of this and I am sure there's others out there who may feel differently, I just hope the government will follow through with the ban, or at the very least put a reasonable cap on fees.