Many people are desperate to move home and estate and letting agents are reporting a massive rise in enquiries about rental properties. With limited available rental stock it is important that tenants understand what fees a landlord can charge a tenant when agreeing a tenancy. This area is governed by the Tenant Fees Act which states that certain fees associated with letting a property in the private rental sector are banned.

For advice on any aspect of landlord and tenant law and your rights please contact us directly.

The following fees payable to a landlord or letting agent are banned under the Tenant Fees Act:

  • A landlord or letting agent can’t charge a tenant to view a potential rental property
  • A landlord can’t charge for the tenancy set-up costs. These set-up costs include the costs involved with carrying out credit checks against tenants and guarantors and the administration costs of setting up a new tenancy agreement. The only exception to the legislation is if a tenancy agreement was started prior to the 1 June 2019 and the tenancy agreement provides that renewal of tenancy agreement fees should be paid
  • At the end of the tenancy agreement a landlord can’t charge their tenant for the costs associated with them leaving the rental property unless the tenancy agreement was entered into before the 1 June 2019. That means a tenant can’t be charged for the cleaning of the rental property at the end of the tenancy agreement. If a tenant doesn’t leave the property in a reasonable condition then a landlord may be able to recover the costs of a professional deep clean through the tenancy deposit scheme
  • If a landlord pays a letting agency to carry out checks on a tenant or to pay for other costs in setting up the tenancy agreement then those costs can’t be passed onto the tenant.

Our Fees

 

  • AST agreement – £350
  • Section 21 notice / section 8 – £500
  • Possession proceedings – £1000 + court fee for issuing proceedings
  • Court Hearings – £1000 per hearing
  • Enforcing possession order – (+ court fees + bailiff fees) – £1000

 Vat where payable on disbursements will be charged at the prevailing rate, currently 20%.