I think EAs are taking the piss

[Mariagatzs12]

So... We bought a house and completion will be a lot sooner than expected. We foolishly signed another 3 month fixed contract thinking we would need it. Now the EA wants to charge a £250 re letting fee and 10 days worth of rent as they need to prepare the house for the new tenant. Surely this is something they should be liable for? I'm LL myself and would never do this, it's part of running the business...

That sounds a good deal if you don’t have to pay the full three months rent.

That is if they can find someone else. Otherwise we're liable for all three months. But that "void" period would be needed regardless when we leave. Also it's all to not pay 6 week's rent, but it's starting to look like it will be a saving of £300 for a lot of hassle. And they always refused to change it to a rolling contract after being 15 months in this house

So we need to pay 3 week's rent to be able to terminate the contract 6 week's early. Ultimately only saving 3 week's rent...

I think it’s a good deal... they could just insist you pay all three months.

You signed the contract. You’re lucky they’re not holding you to it without giving you the option to pay a lesser fee to get out.

I know I signed but only did it because we wanted to be nice to them and not go the eviction route. (As they refused a rolling contract) and the law was on our side. That's what we get for it :(

They can't refuse a rolling contract, it's the legal default. They have to evict you if they don't want a rolling contract. An eviction takes AT LEAST 3 months. As a landlord you should know both of those things.

You shot yourself in the foot and I don't think the letting agents are being unreasonable.

I'm not a landlord in the UK so different laws apply. And we thought that maybe we'd need more those 3 weeks or even stay past the three month contract. The void fee is what seems unreasonable to me (as they need that period regardless).

How much would you save? If it's not significant, I would take the extra time, move in at my own leisure, not bother.

I think £750 at best. The house would most likely be empty a whole month.

Does anyone know if an agent can still charge an early break/release fee since the law around tenant charges changed?

wowfudge according to Shelter they can.