Husband moving out, landlord's agent charging a fee

[tanyadm]

Help please!

My husband and I are separating, amicably, on the 29th of November. We've informed our current letting agents, who have come back and said that him moving out constitutes breach of contract, and we have to pay them £150.

Is this right? I'm keeping the tenancy on, and I don't see why it matters to them who pays the rent, as long as it's paid. All that has to happen is they need to delete his name from the tenancy agreement, and probably we have to sign something, but how is that going to cost them £150?!

Really annoyed, as we've been good, reliable, quiet tenants.

[NorwaySpruce]

I'm not sure to be honest, but letting agents do charge an awful lot for paperwork.

Every time we renew our lease (every 12 months) it costs a small fortune, and they don't even have to change anything, just print off a few pages.

I'd probably just pay it. If they decide to do a new credit check etc. draw up a whole new contract, it will probably cost even more.

[tanyadm]

In Scotland, they are not allowed to charge for those administration fees, so I'm doubly bemused by the whole thing!

[specialsubject]

contact your landlord. As there is only you, you may need re-referencing/credit checking to conform you are still able to pay the rent.

but as you are in Scotland where all these fees go to the landlord (and hence on to the rent) I'm a bit puzzled why they are chasing you.

yes, it is money for old rope. And yes, there's no regulation of letting agents which is scandalous.