The new fees being charged by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme are continuing to be slated by leading agents.
www.estateagenttoday.co.uk – Friday 29th January 2010
TDS said it had no alternative and insisted its new pricing system is fairer.
But Caroline Kavanagh, group lettings director for the Townends Group, warned yesterday of serious potential consequences for both TDS and ARLA.
She said: “I am at a complete loss as to how any company can possibly justify such an enormous uplift in charges.
“We fully appreciate that any company providing a service has to very closely monitor costs, and where standards have perhaps not met the levels expected, to very quickly make changes.
“However, we have never, in the many years we have been trading, experienced such a substantial and time-restricted hike in pricing.
“In addition, agents are being penalised for legislation that is in the tenant’s best interest and part of a contract made between the landlord and tenant.
“Agents could not possibly enforce such increases on their clients because they simply would not tolerate it, so we as the agent have no choice but to carry the cost.
Does this surprise anybody? TDS, EPC’s HMO fees etc etc wherever there are charges there will be increases, whether fair or not they are unavoidable, its easy money. And it will get worse with ridiculous legislation being introduced where the majority pay for the unfairness of the minority. I repeat, its easy money!
Comment by Mr Landlord — 3/2/2010 #