‘CORRUPT’ LETTING AGENTS CASH IN ON UNSUSPECTING WOULD-BE TENANTS

WITH reference to the article “Would-be tenants forking… etc” (Saturday Star, September 10), I would agree that the practice of charging application fees by the letting agent, or in certain cases by the owner, is in fact a case of double-dipping. It could also lead to fraudulent activities.

It has been mentioned that unscrupulous agents charge all enquirers an application fee, then advise these would-be tenants that they have been unsuccessful. They then pocket the money themselves.

All they have to do is put an advert on the internet (which costs them nothing). In certain cases there may not even be a particular property to let.

I appreciate that the laws of supply and demand have to be respected, and so in areas like Cape Town this activity exists, but I have not heard of it happening in Johannesburg.

I doubt very much if an application fee is requested in cases of high-end properties, such as those on the Atlantic seaboard, being offered for rent, so the practice of asking for an application fee affects the lower economic classes, who are less able to afford it.

Surely the agent receives commission from the renter so the credit vetting of suitability of prospective tenants need only apply when they have been provisionally accepted. Agents often ask for application fees before they agree to even show the property to would-be tenants.

Certainly the relevant authorities should be alerted to this iniquitous practice of asking for key-money at the beginning of the letting procedure and if it is decided to allow it, then there should be some form of regulation.

BH Saevitzon