From: JNugent73@mail.com 
  
 On 20/09/2025 12:31 AM, J Newman wrote: 
 > On 9/19/25 21:36, JNugent wrote: 
 >> On 19/09/2025 04:04 AM, J Newman wrote: 
 >>> Are estate agent renewal-of-tenancy fees to landlords justified? 
 >>> Apparently not. 
 >>> 
 >>> If you're a landlord paying these feels, push your estate agent to 
 >>> abolish them. 
 >>> 
 >>> Office of Fair Trading v Foxtons Ltd [2009] EWHC 1681 (Ch) 
 >>> 
 >>> https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ 
 >>> media/555de49a40f0b669c400015b/stakeholder-letter.pdf 
 >> 
 >> Fees for a service are clearly justified, providing that they are 
 >> fair. Everyone has to make a living. 
 >> 
 >> But are the services of an estate agent even required for what is 
 >> essentially a variation (extension) of a current contract between 
 >> landlord and tenant? 
 >> 
 >> Alternatively, the tenant might want to use a solicitor for their side 
 >> of the negotiation. There is no obvious reason why they should pay the 
 >> fees of the landlord's agent in the same matter. 
 >> 
 > 
 > To be clear, it was already unlawful for estate agents to charge 
 > *tenants* renewal fees. 
  
 That does not mean that such activities are unfair. 
  
 "Unfair" and "illegal" are not the same thing. 
  
 > But the ruling was for estate agents who want to charge *landlords* 
 > renewal fees. 
 > 
 > Typically it is something like a 9% tenant introduction fee. If the 
 > tenant renews after the first year, estate agents tend to charge a 7% 
 > renewal fee. 
  
 > The ruling says this fee is unfair and unenforceable because extra work 
 > is typically not done by the estate agent for it. 
  
 So the landlord won't attempt to get the estate agent to negotiate the 
 renewal. 
  
 Is there anything else that has not been addressed? 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
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