Letting agent fees for refurbishment

[nojo]

I asked a letting agent to market my property. There was initial refurbishment work which they helped to organise. New wallpapering, fitting bathroom fixtures damp proof etc. About £7000 spent. After a good few months there were no viewers so I looked at another agency, after informing the current agent in person I would do so. Within a week the new one found a tenant.

My previous agency sent a bill for £800 management fees for the renovating work. Is this reasonable? No management fees were ever discussed and work bills that were received were all quickly paid. Also there is not in any case any contract between us although I did ask for one a number of times, they never sent me one. I personally feel grateful for the help I received in organising the decorators. These were people I already knew and could have employed myself but I guess the agency got them to work a bit cheaper. I want to be fair. I might pay a thank you sum of maybe £150-£200. Is there any inherent obligation on me to pay £800? Sorry about such a long question!

[Snorkerz]

This partly depends on your status. If you are a 'one property' landlord then you can work with the protection of the Unfair Terms In Consumer Contract Regulations.

Basically - if an amount wasn't discussed then you can't be held to it.

See schedule 2, clauses i& l

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1...chedule/2/made

[nojo]

Thank you, that is very helpful. I am incidentally a ‘one property’ landlord. On seeing other advice elsewhere I am not sure my assumption the redecorating work was cheaper because they organised it is correct. I now see some agencies inflate these costs and maybe even take a tradesman commission, in which case the saving I think I might have made might not exist. I feel happier in contesting this and if not strictly obliged to, may offer a small settlement sum as despite all they have been quite helpful.