I've posted something similar in Higher Education and Property/DIY and people having been helpful as they can but I noticed there are some landlords on here who might be able to shed light on this - DD going round some pretty dire student let houses to get accommodation for Sept 2020 (apparently its normal to do this before Christmas for following year). Found somewhere she liked, asked for draft tenancy agreement, it was full of fees like £40 is rent is late more than 24 hours, clauses saying that the landlord only had to give "reasonable" notice for access not 24 hours, saying tenants are responsible for sewers, committing them to professional clean including chimney sweep - these are just a few examples.
As guarantor I challenged a lot of this esp the prohibited fees and the agency was literally fizzing with outrage and insisted their regulator (in this case Property Ombudsman) had said they were allowed to charge all the fees etc. Property Ombudsman told me they'd never agree to that as they are not above the law. So then it was a case of he says/she says, agency said PO were wrong and in the end they said if DD was unhappy she couldn't rent anything from them. That agency has around 25% of student property in that city.
Tried another agent, draft TA is online, helpful I thought, checked that - even worse. I wonder if the landlords in these cases have any idea what the agent is asking on their behalf, or if the landlords have specifically asked for these things to be included?
If we have to get legal advice on every draft TA for any property DD is interested in, it will take months - particularly if the agency is then saying that regardless of any advice she's had, its their way or no way. What has been the experience of landlords here - is this a general problem with student lets and/or letting agencies? Should we just ignore suspicious clauses, sign and then hope for the best?