Money: Your shout: Letters: Saturday's Money special report on the crisis in the private rental market generated a huge response

• Published in: The Guardian (London)
• Main Authors: Dennis, Tony, Holliman, Dave, Hawcock, John, Smart, Steve
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: London (UK) Guardian News & Media Limited 19.11.2011
• ISSN: 0261-3077

* Outlaw non-refundable admin and credit-checking fees of pounds 100-pounds 200. There is no "service" or "product", and since there is only one agency for the flat you've decided you want to rent, there is no "shopping around for a good deal" on this rip-off. I've been told by agencies that it's just a money grab - the credit check costs pounds 10, and they are getting paid by the landlord to vet the tenant, anyway. * I am about to be homeless, thanks to the criminal behaviour of my landlord, against whom I have no redress not just for failing, but for refusing, to provide a gas certificate (the year after a proven gas leak, and the third year in a row where it wasn't done without a fight). The landlord's response? Eviction. Don't tell me this system doesn't need radical reform. Outlawing retaliatory eviction is a place to start. * I know I'm in a minority, but I wouldn't want a longer tenancy. I do not have any children, and I haven't much furniture, so moving isn't too big an undertaking. There have been times when I've been desperate to get to six months and move on - mostly down to noisy neighbours. I don't think I've ever had a landlord who's given me notice to leave, before I gave them notice that I was leaving.