phil Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Hope someone can help me out here. We're starting to look at rental properties, but one thing seems to be relatively common is agents charging tenants a "fee" to handle their "application". This seems a little odd. I hear it's something that's crept in during the last few years. Sounds almost a scam-like practice by the agents. Frankly, I find it loathsome and will argue against paying it quite vehemently as we're dream tenants. Can anyone increase my knowledge on this practice? Particularly with regard to telling agents to "do one" if they think they'll just top-up their commission with this practice? Or am I totally wrong and it's the "done thing" here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jonnylane Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 We're looking at rentals at the moment and have dealt with at least 10 agencies around perth. The system is pretty sensible in our experience. When you want to submit an application, you hand over an 'option fee' equivalent to 1 weeks rent. If you're accepted, the fee you paid is taken off your first rent/bond payment. If it's rejected, you get it back. If you're accepted and then turn down the property, you lose the option fee. Very simple, and it prevents timewasters from applying for many properties at once. Rentals seem to be heavily government regulated here, unlike the UK. Back at home, over 7 years of renting (about 5 properties) since leaving uni, I've been charged a tenant application fee by every single estate agent I've been through, ranging from 25 to 150 pounds per applicant. Ridiculous. I mentioned this to a couple of agents here, and they were shocked to find out that tenants get charged in the UK! Hope someone can help me out here.We're starting to look at rental properties, but one thing seems to be relatively common is agents charging tenants a "fee" to handle their "application". This seems a little odd. I hear it's something that's crept in during the last few years. Sounds almost a scam-like practice by the agents. Frankly, I find it loathsome and will argue against paying it quite vehemently as we're dream tenants. Can anyone increase my knowledge on this practice? Particularly with regard to telling agents to "do one" if they think they'll just top-up their commission with this practice? Or am I totally wrong and it's the "done thing" here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil Posted June 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 The preventing timewasters element makes it a bit more sensible. Thanks. I'm now having trouble getting to grips with the idea that viewings only happen when people are working. Not too sure how they expect a professional couple to attend viewings if they only ever have them in the working day.... an agent that does teatime viewings would make a killing. Still, I guess they manage to make their money anyway. We'll just have to take time off work to view properties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LowrysDownUnder Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 My husband has rented properties in Holland and Singapore and they've both charged extortionate amounts for a 'finders fee'...nowhere near a weeks rent, more like a month or more. We'd never heard of it before either but I guess it's normal everywhere else! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackboots Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Not all agents do it .. we have found a coupl have , but not all ... luck of the drawer . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give me a break! Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Ours did. I had to view ours on my own as it was in worktime. OH trusted my judgement and was able to see the outside and see the inside on the internet so not too much of a problem:wubclub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackboots Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 I have to say of the houses we rented and the viewings we went to on others drove us daft ! we never went together to view half the time , sometimes we just couldn't see them at all .. and my oh chose 2 on his own .. there's not much leeway .. yet when we rented ours out in the uk we had the agents ringing to ask if we could show a tennent around all times of the week .. which we did because we wanted to be off .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil Posted June 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 We were lucky in that we rented our UK place out within 4 hours of getting the agent in place, but showing folks around was going to be no problem. I've spoken to about a dozen agencies today to try and arrange viewings. I tell you what, with the attitude of some of them, if I was putting a property up for rent here I'd be very unimpressed. Most were bordering on rude and certainly far from helpful/interested. Just a little frustrating - we're dream tenants for any landlord, yet the agents working for them just don't seem bothered. I'll get used to it I'm sure and it will all work out (we don't have to move for a while, but could move instantly if the place was right). I'd just expected them to be slightly keener to take money off me! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackboots Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 I think they are all rude and think your second class when renting .. i hated it with a vengence ( don't get me started ) seeing as most house's in WA are supposed to be rented and we pay their wages you would think they would be nicer ! NOT SO .. they get worse ..i think they know its rented and all they have to do is sift through the applications , ive even heard people are adding extra at the mo to secure a property .. don't really have to worry about doing their jobs with that happenningf do they ? good luck house hunting ! where are you looking for by the way ? Oh yes take pictures of everything before you send in the final check list .. which they give you after the keys .. bit late by that point in some ways .. just cover yourself . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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