The Tenant Fees Act coming into effect tomorrow and banning fees on tenants in England has been given a ringing endorsement from an unexpected quarter - a lettings agency.
Philip Hay, head of lettings at the family-run Scarborough agency Ellis Hay, says: “The fee ban should level the playing field between private landlords, who usually don’t charge fees, and agents. This means in the coming months, there should be a bigger pool of available properties for tenants to consider.
“With correct and proper advice on this and future changes in legislation from letting agents, landlords should not have anything to fear.
“Unlike some of the national chains and city agencies we have always charged a fair amount for application fees so this does not come as too much of a loss; we will be able to carry on offering the same level of service without passing on excessive costs to the landlord.”
And Samantha Hay, a partner at the company, adds: “In order to simultaneously benefit both tenants and landlords, all parties must comply with the correct procedures and as a result, landlords will continue to see a fair return on their business. Whilst tenants, who may not have previously been able to afford agency fees, have the option to enter into a tenancy.”
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I believe these people should be running a charity.
Whilst the legislation is ill thought our and poorly drafted, I too, am broadly in favour. The nationwide firms have built a business based on ripping off tenants whilst us independents believe we should collect our earnings from our clients.
So if I was using this LA as a LL client I would require them to use the TRP methodology with LRS being the best exponent of this as their referencing also qualifies the tenant for RGI if the tenant is good enough.
If the LA uses useless Homelet or any other cheap referencing I wouldn't use this LA.
LRS referencing for a TRP costs about £60.
Can't see how this LA could absorb that cost.
There is referencing and referencing.
Most LA referencing is poor.
Use LRS and you won't go wrong!!
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