UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi there

I have used Foxtons letting agent to let my property last year for one March 2021-March this year(I thought it was one year)

The same tenants renewed the contract for another year but I didn't use the Foxtons

Now they are asking for renewal fees £2300 as if I was using them but I didn't

On our phone conversation I was told it is for a year but on the contract it says if the same tenants want to renew the contract I am liable to pay Foxtons the renewal fees even I didn't use them
They are threatening me with legal action

Can anyone help please
Thank you

This is their modus operandi, isn't it? They consider the Tenant to be their Tenant until the time they're not.

I thought everyone knew? It made national news, I thought.

You signed their terms of business, I assume. Why didn't you read it before you signed it? How can anyone help you extricate yourself from a contract you signed with open eyes? A phone conversation isn't recorded. I may try to negotiate something more palatable to get rid of them... but if they're still threatening legal action then it's either because they have had success in Court before using this angle, or they take you for a mug. You could try to ignore them, of course. One assumes you have no day-to-day relationship with them... I mean, they're not collecting rent for you or anything?

Quote from: Hal on March 25, 2022, 06:07:03 PM
The same tenants renewed the contract for another year but I didn't use the Foxtons

Now they are asking for renewal fees £2300 as if I was using them but I didn't

You had no need to renew the contract (or actually, to start another contract) for a new fixed term at the end of the first year. You could have just allowed the contract to have become a rolling monthly Statutory Period Tenancy. No work required at all.

£2300 is a large fee. Is that just for tenant find and contract creation, or were Foxtons also managing the tenancy for you?

What exactly does your contract with Foxtons say? If you quote all the relevant sections here (or upload it as an attachment), we may be able to help you.