Estate agent fees - is this normal?!

[crazymumofthree]

So we went to look at a new house to rent today, it was quite nice however needed a bit of tlc (new carpets and a paint)

The estate agent gave us the check in fee sheet...

AIBU to just refuse the house because of this?

£480 for one tenant to check in - £120 for each one thereafter so £600 for me and DH!!

I don't understand the difference of £360 between the first and second tenant? How can they justify that?

We have seen a couple of others - one was through landlord so no fees another was through an agent and was told £120 only!

Extortionate. Does the LL know the agent is charging that much? You only have the security of a six month tenancy too. What's the betting these sharks serve a s21 notice rather than let the initial fixed term rollover to a statutory periodic tenancy.

If you prefer the house, you could see if they will negotiate on their fees.

We liked the house, estate agents said it's long term - current tenants we saw said landlord is builder they have been there 5 years, landlord is going to do some work in between after current tenants have left to update it including replacing the two bathrooms, kitchen was fine just carpets were a bit shabby and walls obv needed repainting after 5 years!

Tbh the estate agents have put us right off, the amount of money we will be putting upfront (£5k!!) I am not sure if we can afford another £600 on top as well as moving costs etc and it makes me question their integrity tbh! Estate agent said the landlord has a few properties but this is the first time they have managed this one.

This will be our 3rd move in 4 years, with three young children in tow (who are all at primary) Landlords keep selling (unsurprisingly as house prices have doubled in the last 8-10 years here) it's just getting too much but what can we do! We have nowhere near the £50k minimum needed for a mortgage deposit! Frustrating!

Ask to contact the landlord. Say you want a long term tenancy with a break at six months - tenancy law being what it is no sane landlord will omit that - but afterwards you are secure even if there is a sale.

Also needs to be conditional on those fixes.

Just in case but in case you don’t know tenancy laws in Scotland changed on 1december plus fees are now illegal. You may be no where near scotland but as I say just in case.