To want an answer that doesn't cost £50...

[Daffodilsarentfluffy]

House hunting as landlord selling up. . Nothing fits our requirements.. One possibly would work but needed to know if they accepts pets... Emailed the agent asking if 2 ddogs would be a problem.. Got a generic email back asking for the up front documentation just to request a viewing..( Happy to show you the list!) At a cost of £50...not worth viewing if I can't take my ddogs. I emailed back again just asking about the ddogs. Got a reply that the house was now unavailable! A week later it is still on several websites...
Surely a waste of everyone's time to not just answer yes /no about the ddogs?

I am not sure I understand - do they ask everyone for £50 to view the house?

im a landlord but I’d take a pet on exception - a small chihuahua would be fine, a lolloping Great Dane, no

It sounds like a scam.

£50 to have your pre application forms looked at and secure a viewing. . I know they can't show a string of random people round but the pre application form was quite extensive... Surely some basic stuff would be fine? A lot for work for the staff and a waste of everyone's time potentially..

Ridiculous. I wouldn't want to use such an absurd agent anyway. I'm sorry you're going through this stress.

Off-topic but doesn't it drive you nuts having to put ddog?

Doesn't your phone AutoCorrect to dog?

This was the request before even offering a viewing but would have handed in the money....

Pretty sure these kinds of fees are illegal now...

I think it depends what the rental market is like where you are. DS was looking in Leeds last summer and we couldn’t get agents to call us about anything or reply to emails, places were only on the market for a couple of hours before going, and a few similarly wanted £50 to register to see anything. It was ridiculous.

I live in quite a crappy area!. And it's the most Upmarket agent here!

Yep. Application fees are illegal…

https://www.coventry.gov.uk/trading-standards/tenant-fees-act-2019-landlord-can-cannot-charge/2#:~:text=It%20is%20illegal%20for%20landlords,anything%20other%20than%20permitted%20payments.

Just rechecked the ad... A holding fee is the wording used...

Money, money, money, must be funny……..

Sigh.

Thank you, did my head in too

That’s awful. The agents will also be charging the landlord a finders fee and checking fees, etc so effectively they’re being paid twice.

Actually my phone corrects to ddog... Too many years on mn!

Those fees are illegal.
by saying a holding fee they are trying to create a loophole that doesn’t exist

That's pretty basic level of information being requested. They've not asked for proof of income, employment reference, landlord reference etc, just that you will be able to provide it. There are too many timewaster potential tenants around

This is when it's best to just go in and ask. Or phone.
You shouldn't be paying any fee up front.
Good luck.

That's illegal and absolutely outrageous, you should report them. A holding fee is after you see the flat.