← Back to News
Agents Fees Ban: tenants in poorest areas will have to pay more
An analysis of 30,000 tenancies by PropTech firm Goodlord suggests that the upcoming ban on tenants’ fees could impact most on the poorest areas of the country.
Goodlord, a London-based property technology company, analysed the tenancies processed through its software platform for letting agents so far this year.
It found that tenants moving home were required to have on average £3,039 available per property.
This includes the first month’s rent (£1,092), security deposit (£1442), tenant fees (£209) and a refundable holding deposit (£296).
Goodlord found tenants in London needed the highest amount upfront per property at £4,347, whereas areas outside of London required tenants to pay on average £2,324.
In 2019, tenants will no longer be required to pay the average £209 in fees for any administration tasks letting agents carry out to facilitate their move as part of the proposed bill.
However, tenants will still face normal annual rent increases of approximately 1.7 per cent, meaning the average rent will likely increase to £1,111 per month.
If the Bill is passed and the ban takes effect, Goodlord calculates that the average maximum security deposit could be £1,534 and refundable holding deposit £256.
This means the total potential amount of money a tenant would need to move home in 2019 would be £2,942 – only £97 less than in 2018.
But most startling of all, Goodlord found London tenants could save the most – an average of £183 per property while tenants in the North could pay an extra £100.
“Our industry needs regulation that doesn’t penalise good letting agents, promotes sustainable rents for tenants and gives landlords peace of mind” says Goodlord chief operating officer Tom Mundy.
“Current government legislation is making it harder for this to be the case and in some cases the proposed tenant fee ban is making it even more costly for the people it’s trying to protect” he adds.
……………………………………………………..
Original Source: Letting Agent Today.
Original Author: Graham Norwood.
………………………………………………………
https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2018/11/agents-fees-ban-tenants-in-poorest-areas-will-have-to-pay-more
