Letting Agents laws?

Question

A letting agent has just asked me for £150 as a deposit (for administration fees) for a house i was interested in renting. I paid it because i wanted to secure it.

I have since recieved an application form over a week later (giving the cheque time to clear) and on the application form it says on the second page that if they decide to decline my application for the property then the £150 is non refundable under any circumstances.

Is this normal practice as they could surely turn down others after the same property and get £150 off all of them? And they did'nt tell me it would be non refundable when i paid it. Also they said they had sent an application form the next day but it never arrived until after the cheque had cleared.

Answer 1

This is a rally high price, but I'm not in your country so I can't say if its normal.  I charge $25 (its doesn't even cover my costs of running the credit check).  I guess they could just keep the 100 lbs from you and many others but since you've already paid it amy as well just put in the application and see what happens.  Its alot but probably legit.