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TENANT FEES THAT MAY BE CHARGED…
TENANT FEES
Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 before the tenancy starts the following are payable: –
Holding Deposit: 1 weeks’ rent
Deposit: 5 weeks’ rent (annual rents up to £50,000)
Initial monthly rent
During the tenancy the tenant(s) are responsible for the rent, all utilities, telephone and internet connections and their relevant subscriptions, television licence and Council Tax.
Under the new legislation, permitted payments will also include, but are not limited to, damage as outlined in the Tenancy Agreement, reasonable costs incurred due to loss of keys and security devices, reasonable costs incurred by breach of tenancy by the tenant(s), reasonable costs incurred by the landlord due to early termination of the tenancy, any changes to the Tenancy Agreement (£50 inclusive of VAT), interest at 3% for late payment of rent as determined by the Tenant Fees act 2019.
A. The rent.
b. A refundable tenancy deposit capped at no more than five weeks’ rent where the annual rent for the property is less than £50,000 and no more than six weeks’ rent where the annual rent for the property is £50,000 or more.
c. A refundable holding deposit capped at no more than one week’s rent
d. A default charge for the amount charged for a lost key or security device to not exceed the reasonable costs incurred by the landlord or agent, supported by evidence in writing to the person who is liable for the payment.
e. A charge for late payment of rent when the tenant is more than 14 days in arrears at no more than an annual percentage rate of 3% above the Bank of Englands base rate for each day that the payment is outstanding.
f. Certain payments on assignment, novation or variation of a tenancy when requested by the tenant capped at £50, or reasonable costs incurred.
g. Payments associated with early termination of the tenancy, when requested by the tenant capped to the reasonable costs incurred by the agent, and
h. Payments in respect of utilities, communication services, television licence and council tax.
YOU CAN READ THE FULL SHEDULE OF PERMITTED PAYMENTS BY CLICKING HERE: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/4/schedule/1
Permitted payments and tenant protection information
For properties in England, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 means that in addition to rent, lettings agents can only charge tenants (or anyone acting on the tenant’s behalf) the following permitted payments:
- Holding deposits (a maximum of 1 week’s rent);
- Deposits (a maximum deposit of 5 weeks’ rent for annual rent below £50,000, or 6 weeks’ rent for annual rental of £50,000 and above);
- Payments to change a tenancy agreement eg. change of sharer (capped at £50 or, if higher, any reasonable costs);
- Payments associated with early termination of a tenancy (capped at the landlord’s loss or the agent’s reasonably incurred costs);
- Where required, utilities (electricity, gas or other fuel, water, sewerage), communication services “telephone, internet, cable/satellite television), TV licence;
- Council tax (payable to the billing authority);
- Interest payments for the late payment of rent (up to 3% above Bank of England’s annual percentage rate);
- Reasonable costs for replacement of lost keys or other security devices;
- Contractual damages in the event of the tenant’s default of a tenancy agreement; and
- Any other permitted payments under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 and regulations applicable at the relevant time.
For properties in Wales, the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019 means that in addition to rent, lettings agents can only charge tenants the following permitted payments
- Holding deposits (a maximum of 1 week’s rent);
- Security deposits;
- Where required, utilities (electricity, gas or other fuel, water, sewerage), communication services “telephone, internet, cable/satellite television), TV licence;
- Council tax (payable to the billing authority);
- Payments for the late payment of rent (where required under the tenancy agreement);
- A breach of a term of the contract (where required under the tenancy agreement); and
- Any other permitted payments under the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act and regulations applicable at the relevant time.
Tenant protection
In addition to publishing relevant fees, lettings agents are also required to publish details of:
- the redress scheme they are a member of; and
- the name of the approved or designated Client Money Protection scheme they are a member of (if any).
You will find our memberships at the bottom of this page.
Holding Deposit (Per tenancy): One week’s rent. This is to reserve a property. Note: This will be withheld if any relevant person (including any guarantor(s)) withdraws from the tenancy, fails a Right-to-Rent check, provides materially significant or false or misleading information, or fails to sign their tenancy agreement (and/or Deed of Guarantee) within 15 calendar days (or other Deadline for Agreement as mutually agreed in writing).
Unpaid rent Interest at 3% above the Bank of England Base Rate from Rent Due Date until paid in order to pursue non-payment of rent. Please Note: This will not be levied until the rent is more than 14 days in arrears.
Security Deposit (per tenancy. Rent under £50,000 per year). Five weeks’ rent. This covers damages or defaults on the part of the tenant during the tenancy.
Security Deposit (per tenancy. Rent of £50,000 or
over per year). Six weeks’ rent. This covers damages or defaults on the part of the tenancy during the tenancy.
CLIENT MONEY PROTECTION…
TENANCY DEPOSIT PROTECTION…
Should the need arise, you can find details on how to raise a dispute here
THE PROPERTY OMBUDSMAN…
