UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi,
Was wondering if anyone can help.. I purchased a BTL in 2007, the estate agent passed my detailes to their letting depatment who found me a tennant straight away and drew up a AST agreement.
I have been invoiced 6% per year eversince, even though as far as i'm aware nothing has been signed to agree this. The letting agent call this a 'finding fee', they do not collect any rent or provide any service. If i can prove nothing has been signed, is their approach legal?
Thanks,
Jim

Hello Jim

Courts tend to take a critical eye over deals which create an ongoing cost for someone where the other party has only to do some up-front work.  Especially if the ongoing liability has been created via some king of leveraging, coercion or hiding of the terms.

I would suggest you find and review all the agreements you entered into in 2007.  Assuming you find no nasty surprises I'd go tot eh letting agent and tell them to stop charging you.  If they don't play ball then go the The Property Ombusdman: http://www.tpos.co.uk/

Please let me know what you decide to do and how it works out.