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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/sep/04/quarter-people-ripped-off-lettings-agents-shelter
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| A quarter of people feel ripped-off by lettings agents, Shelter says | A quarter of people feel ripped-off by lettings agents, Shelter says |
| (25 days later) | |
| Almost a quarter of people feel they have been "ripped off" at some point in their lives by letting agents, research from Shelter has found. | Almost a quarter of people feel they have been "ripped off" at some point in their lives by letting agents, research from Shelter has found. |
| About 23% of more than 5,000 people surveyed believed they had been landed with unfairly high fees for aspects of renting in England such as credit checks, renewing contracts and "administration". | About 23% of more than 5,000 people surveyed believed they had been landed with unfairly high fees for aspects of renting in England such as credit checks, renewing contracts and "administration". |
| More than half (52%) of people who felt they had been ripped off, or knew someone who had been, said this was due to fees being "out of proportion" to the true cost of the work done. | More than half (52%) of people who felt they had been ripped off, or knew someone who had been, said this was due to fees being "out of proportion" to the true cost of the work done. |
| The housing charity said it had found cases of renters being charged more than £150 for repeat credit checks each year, which Shelter said actually cost between £8 and £25 to perform. | The housing charity said it had found cases of renters being charged more than £150 for repeat credit checks each year, which Shelter said actually cost between £8 and £25 to perform. |
| It said some people were being charged £100 just to view a property and renters were being charged up to £540 in non-refundable "administration" fees. | It said some people were being charged £100 just to view a property and renters were being charged up to £540 in non-refundable "administration" fees. |
| Shelter also said some landlords are being unfairly charged by letting agents, and that some letting agents had been double-charging landlords and tenants for the same services. | Shelter also said some landlords are being unfairly charged by letting agents, and that some letting agents had been double-charging landlords and tenants for the same services. |
| People living in London, which has seen particularly fierce competition in the rental sector, were the most likely to think they had been charged over the odds, with almost one in three (29%) believing they had been. | People living in London, which has seen particularly fierce competition in the rental sector, were the most likely to think they had been charged over the odds, with almost one in three (29%) believing they had been. |
| Kay Boycott, director of campaigns, policy and communications at Shelter, said: "It's scandalous that some letting agents are creaming off huge profits from the boom in private renting by charging both tenants and landlords fees that are totally out of proportion to the service they provide. | Kay Boycott, director of campaigns, policy and communications at Shelter, said: "It's scandalous that some letting agents are creaming off huge profits from the boom in private renting by charging both tenants and landlords fees that are totally out of proportion to the service they provide. |
| "With our investigation uncovering unexplained charges of over £500, we need to make sure letting agent fees are reasonable. With costs like these, on top of the sky-high rents families already face, it's no surprise many dread the day they have to look for a new place to rent." | "With our investigation uncovering unexplained charges of over £500, we need to make sure letting agent fees are reasonable. With costs like these, on top of the sky-high rents families already face, it's no surprise many dread the day they have to look for a new place to rent." |
| Rents have soared to new highs over the past year amid strong demand from tenants who have found themselves trapped in the rental sector. | Rents have soared to new highs over the past year amid strong demand from tenants who have found themselves trapped in the rental sector. |
| Would-be homebuyers have struggled to get on the property ladder, as lenders have toughened their borrowing criteria and the number of low-deposit mortgages available has shrunk back. | Would-be homebuyers have struggled to get on the property ladder, as lenders have toughened their borrowing criteria and the number of low-deposit mortgages available has shrunk back. |
| The study questioned people about their experiences of renting over their lives, so includes a cross-section of the population, not just current tenants. | The study questioned people about their experiences of renting over their lives, so includes a cross-section of the population, not just current tenants. |
| Jane Ingram, president of the Association of Residential Lettings Agents, said: "It is important to bear in mind that a professional lettings service cannot be provided to either a landlord or a tenant for no cost, however both parties should be aware of their costs and feel they have had a professional service, and should have somewhere to seek redress if they feel otherwise." | Jane Ingram, president of the Association of Residential Lettings Agents, said: "It is important to bear in mind that a professional lettings service cannot be provided to either a landlord or a tenant for no cost, however both parties should be aware of their costs and feel they have had a professional service, and should have somewhere to seek redress if they feel otherwise." |
| She added: "Standards in the lettings industry do need to be raised; that's why we have long-called on the government to act swiftly and introduce a robust licensing system designed to protect consumers." | She added: "Standards in the lettings industry do need to be raised; that's why we have long-called on the government to act swiftly and introduce a robust licensing system designed to protect consumers." |
| Top mortgages | Top mortgages |
| Chelsea Building Society | Chelsea Building Society |
| Yorkshire BS | Yorkshire BS |
| Yorkshire BS | |
| Provided by London & Country for the Guardian | Provided by London & Country for the Guardian |