Renting a flat via letting agent - help please?

I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole! There one and only priority is to screw you for every penny they can get. When something goes wrong, they won't want to know, unless there's a fat fee at the end of it. They're thieving scumbags of the highest order, don't encourage them, try and find somewhere else.

Fees vary depending on where in the country you are. IMHO these are extortionate. Their actions regarding the need for guarantor are about right, an they will do a credit check on your mum because they need proof that she can afford what she is guaranteeing. Unfortunately, although the fees are high, you have 2 choices - accept them or walk away. I would ask them how long a 'slow check in' will take (do they advertise their normal service as slow!), I would ask them how they define 'short tenancy', I would ask them to define 'emergency'. Tip: At the end of your initial contract you don't have to have your contract renewed - the law gives you a monthly contract (section 5, 1988 Housing Act). Why pay them £90 for re-printing your contract with different dates? Tip 2: Once your tenancy begins, ask in writing for the landlords contact details (they have to give them) then you can write your own permission requests and save £30 a time. I don't believe they can force you to take their own insurance - check with the CAB. They also can't stop you changing utility supplier but whether they can charge you ????

Firstly, you do not fail a credit check based upon failure to be registered on the electoral roll. If you have credit anywhere, you will have a credit history regardless. You should only fail if you have CCJ, Bankruptcy/IVA or serious long term poor credit. These charges are mostly absurd, in particular; Cancelling or non payment of tenant insurance - £125+VAT You cannot be obligated to take out insurance, although it is STRONGLY recommended, nor are you forced to use any particular supplier of tenants content insurance. Landlord Permission Request (for things like allowing Sky to be connected) - £25+VAT You request permission in line with your tenancy agreement. If the agent refuses to acknowledge a request to the landlord for permission then consent has been unreasonably withheld. Even if the lease does not contain specific wording that the consent is “not to be unreasonably withheld” this is implied by statute. If they are particularly obtuse about it, write to the landlord directly. If you have not received the landlords address in your tenancy agreement, you may request it via Section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. DISCLOSURE OF LANDLORD’S IDENTITY (1) If the tenant of premises occupied as a dwelling makes a written request for the landlord’s name and address to— (a) any person who demands, or the last person who received, rent payable under the tenancy, or any other person for the time being acting as agent for the landlord, in relation to the tenancy, that person shall supply the tenant with a written statement of the landlord’s name and address within the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which he receives the request. (2) A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (1) commits a summary offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale. It seems these charges are in place to make sure you never contact them about anything. Is this agency registered with the Property Ombudsman? Arla? Safeagent? Anything? Their website doesn't mention any, and I would be very very wary of them as an agent.

I was a landlord for years and while some of these make sense, many of them are news to me. the non-payment and time-wasting charges are reasonable enough, but I never heard of them charging you to contact the landlord. the landlord will be paying them a monthly fee too and this should cover picking up the phone once in a while. you should have tenant insurance - but don't you arrange it? And to charge you for a helpline call - what??? the credit check will fail if you are not on the electoral roll - but shouldn't for someone else's debt. if you want the flat and this is who the landlord uses, you'll have to suck it up -but it all seems a bit much.

Sadly this is fairly standard, which is why renting is typically higher than it should be, 75% of rent money covers the estate agent fees, you could rent it privately and avoid all the excess expenses