Legal
Fees and client money.
How we charge, what tenants can be asked to pay, and how money we hold for clients is protected.
Contents
1. How we charge
Every fee is agreed in writing before you commit, in a terms of business letter that sets out what is included, what is not, when the fee becomes payable and how to end the agreement. Figures on this page are indicative and exclude VAT unless stated. Where a fee is quoted inclusive of VAT we say so.
2. Selling
Our fee for selling is a percentage of the price achieved, agreed before marketing and payable on completion: no sale, no fee. The instruction letter states whether the agreement is sole agency, joint agency or multiple agency, the notice period, and any marketing costs that would be charged separately, which we itemise. An Energy Performance Certificate is required before marketing and is arranged at cost if you do not hold a valid one.
3. Landlords
Landlord fees are a percentage of the rent, quoted in writing at the rental appraisal, for either a tenant-find service or a fully managed service. The quotation lists the set-up, renewal, inventory, check-out and any other charges so that the total cost of a tenancy is clear before you instruct us.
4. Tenants: permitted payments
Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 we may only ask tenants for the following payments:
- Rent.
- A refundable tenancy deposit, capped at five weeks' rent where the annual rent is below £50,000, or six weeks' rent where it is £50,000 or more.
- A refundable holding deposit, capped at one week's rent, to reserve a property.
- Payments to change the tenancy when requested by the tenant, capped at £50 or reasonable costs incurred if higher.
- Payments associated with early termination of the tenancy, when requested by the tenant.
- Payments for utilities, communication services, TV licence and council tax where the tenancy agreement makes the tenant responsible.
- A default fee for late payment of rent (interest capped at 3% above the Bank of England base rate, from the 14th day) and for the replacement of a lost key or security device (reasonable costs, evidenced).
No other fees are charged to tenants.
5. Surveys
Indicative fees including VAT: RICS Level 1 Condition Report from £450; Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey from £700; Level 3 Building Survey from £1,250; single-issue defect report from £400. The fee depends on the size, age and type of the property and is confirmed before the inspection is booked.
6. Mortgages and bridging
Mortgage, protection and bridging advice is provided by our FCA-authorised partners. There is no charge for an initial conversation or for a decision in principle. Where a broker fee applies it is disclosed in writing before you commit. Lenders may pay the adviser a procuration fee; the amount is disclosed in the adviser's documentation and on request.
7. Client money and protection
Money we hold on behalf of clients, including rent, tenancy deposits before registration and monies held during a transaction, is kept in a designated client account separate from our own funds. Tenancy deposits are registered with a government-approved deposit protection scheme within 30 days. Client money is protected by a government-approved client money protection scheme, named in our terms of business and available on request.
8. Redress
We are a member of the independent property redress scheme of which we are a member (named in our terms of business and available on request). If a complaint is not resolved through our complaints procedure, you may refer it to the scheme, which provides independent, free adjudication.