Department issues guidance on letting fees

The Department for Communities has issued guidance to both tenants and landlords following a court judgment last summer which ruled that two letting agents must repay certain tenancy fees charged to a tenant. 

Departmental guidance

The Department issued the following guidance to tenants:

“You are well aware of fees charged by letting agents and may have paid such fees before you became a private tenant.  Where the fees cover work done by the letting agents as part of their service to the landlord, such fees may be recovered if you have evidence that you paid such letting or associated fees in the last six years.

Whilst a recent court case confirms the current law (the Commission on the Disposal of Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1986) it does not follow that in all circumstances there will be an automatic entitlement to a refund. It is important therefore that anyone who may have been impacted seeks advice. You can visit the Housing Rights website or call the Housing Rights helpline on 028 9024 5640 for more information”.

The Department's guidance to landlords is as follows:

If you use a Letting Agent you may be interested in the recent court ruling . The judgement confirms the law that where a Letting Agent passes on to the tenant any part of the costs of work commissioned by you, such costs may be recoverable by the tenant.” If as a landlord you require any further advice you could contact the landlord helpline on 028 9024 5640 by selecting option ‘5’.