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Estate agents charging for a reference?

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  • 05-10-2018 11:30am
    #1
    billybonkers
    Registered Users Posts: 2,293 ✭✭✭


    Is it normal practise for an established estate agents to charge for a tenant reference? A friend has just been told he will have to pay €25 for a reference from an estate agents in Dublin that he has rented through for 4 years!


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    #2
    amcalester
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,121 ✭✭✭amcalester


    Its work for the agent so seems reasonable that they would charge.


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    #3
    power pants
    Registered Users Posts: 2,907 ✭✭✭power pants


    amcalester wrote: »
    Its work for the agent so seems reasonable that they would charge.


    No it doesn’t , It sounds ridiculous

    I’ve required 2 references in 10 years from estate agents and both were happy to type a couple of sentences. Takes around a minute max


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    #4
    GingerLily
    Registered Users Posts: 4,767 ✭✭✭GingerLily


    I've never heard of it myself, and dealt with two letting agencies who were very helpful at the end of tenancy, BUT, I can't see how you'd be entitled to a reference for free?

    Very scabby of them though


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    #5
    lawred2
    Registered Users Posts: 24,271 ✭✭✭✭lawred2


    amcalester wrote: »
    Its work for the agent so seems reasonable that they would charge.

    lol

    I suppose they are free to charge. Which for estate agents means that some of them will charge.

    Dick move though.


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    #6
    the_syco
    Registered Users Posts: 37,295 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    Is that €25 per phone call that they get?


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    #7
    Claw Hammer
    Registered Users Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭Claw Hammer


    lawred2 wrote: »
    lol

    I suppose they are free to charge. Which for estate agents means that some of them will charge.

    Dick move though.
    Estate agents are only allowed to charge one party in a transaction. If they have already charged the landlord for management they cant then charge the tenant. Complain to the PSRA.


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    #8
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,676 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    Claw Hammer wrote: »
    Estate agents are only allowed to charge one party in a transaction. If they have already charged the landlord for management they cant then charge the tenant. Complain to the PSRA.

    So they'll just refuse to give references. Clever move.


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    #9
    lawred2
    Registered Users Posts: 24,271 ✭✭✭✭lawred2


    Claw Hammer wrote: »
    Estate agents are only allowed to charge one party in a transaction. If they have already charged the landlord for management they cant then charge the tenant. Complain to the PSRA.

    I can't see how providing a written reference could be considered part of a transaction between and a property owner and an agent.


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    #10
    Claw Hammer
    Registered Users Posts: 6,160 ✭✭✭Claw Hammer


    lawred2 wrote: »
    I can't see how providing a written reference could be considered part of a transaction between and a property owner and an agent.

    The provision of a reference is arising from their management of the property,. Normally a landlord provides a reference. If they are doing it in lieu of the landlord it is because of the management contract they had with the landlord. The landlord will have been charged for the management of the property.


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    #11
    lawred2
    Registered Users Posts: 24,271 ✭✭✭✭lawred2


    Claw Hammer wrote: »
    The provision of a reference is arising from their management of the property,. Normally a landlord provides a reference. If they are doing it in lieu of the landlord it is because of the management contract they had with the landlord. The landlord will have been charged for the management of the property.

    that's tenuous


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    #12
    DubCount
    Registered Users Posts: 1,065 ✭✭✭DubCount


    Quick - call PBP and Sinn Fein - we need legislation to deal with this. Landlords and agents should be required to attach a €50 note to every reference they give, and if its not attached in the correct location, the RTB should be able to issue a large fine for the distress caused to the tenant.


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    #13
    DubCount
    Registered Users Posts: 1,065 ✭✭✭DubCount


    marieholmfan wrote: »
    Estate agents are in the main less honest than ordinary Irish people ; letting agents in particular tend to fall far short of the ordinary Irish standard of decency.

    I dont think that is fair comment. I have had dealings with many of them and never had cause to question their honesty or decency.


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    #14
    dennyk
    Registered Users Posts: 1,645 ✭✭✭dennyk


    It's likely legal, even if it is a bit of a dick move; neither previous landlords nor their agents are obligated to provide a reference, so they're free to say "pay this fee or I won't". Could your friend try going directly to their landlord rather than through the agent? He or she might be more amenable to providing a reference without trying to squeeze money out of your buddy.


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    #15
    Mike3549
    Registered Users Posts: 930 ✭✭✭Mike3549


    Pay €25, get the receipt and then post it on twitter facebook and other social media site. Should be fun


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    #16
    Edgware
    Registered Users Posts: 5,875 ✭✭✭Edgware


    Claw Hammer wrote: »
    The provision of a reference is arising from their management of the property,. Normally a landlord provides a reference. If they are doing it in lieu of the landlord it is because of the management contract they had with the landlord. The landlord will have been charged for the management of the property.

    There's no obligation to provide a reference. Its additional work so pay up and smile


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    #17
    Browney7
    Registered Users Posts: 3,098 ✭✭✭Browney7


    Just when you thought the relationship between LLs/agents and tenants couldn't get any more adversarial. How miserable can you be asking for 25 quid off someone who to all intents and purposes was a decent tenant (why ask for a reference if you wrecked a place) for a decent period of time?


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    #18
    Fann Linn
    Registered Users Posts: 7,772 ✭✭✭Fann Linn


    Previous employers should take a leaf from these fcukers and start charging for references so.


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    #19
    ted1
    Registered Users Posts: 23,266 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    Claw Hammer wrote: »
    Estate agents are only allowed to charge one party in a transaction. If they have already charged the landlord for management they cant then charge the tenant. Complain to the PSRA.

    I’ve read some rubbish in here over the tears. This is up there.

    The landlord would not have paid the estate agent to provide a reference.
    The ex tenant is asking a professional to provide a service. For which there’s an admin fee.


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    #20
    dennyk
    Registered Users Posts: 1,645 ✭✭✭dennyk


    Browney7 wrote: »
    Just when you thought the relationship between LLs/agents and tenants couldn't get any more adversarial. How miserable can you be asking for 25 quid off someone who to all intents and purposes was a decent tenant (why ask for a reference if you wrecked a place) for a decent period of time?

    Sounds like it's the agent charging the fee; the LL has nothing to do with it and may not even be aware of the situation if the tenant hasn't talked to them directly (assuming it isn't a corporate landlord or someone else who wouldn't care anyway).


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