Avoiding Agent's Fees When Renting

[ibgirl]

Hi, is there a way of avoiding paying an agent's fee when renting? When we moved here we had an agent compile a shortlist of properties and drive us around. While this service was very helpful, it was expensive and I think that I can do these things myself.
If I deal directly with a private landlord will they still try to charge me an "agent's fee" (even though no agent!). How about directly contacting a big corporate landlord if I know the building that I want (for instance Bel Air)?

[PDLM]

If you deal direct with a private landlord then clearly there's no agent's fee involved. Not sure what you paid first time, but the normal maximum agent's fee is half of one month's rent.

[timklip]

of course if you deal directly with an owner, there is no agents fee...and if I were you, I wouldn't write off an agent's services as unnecessary...for the money you pay them in agency fee, they should (IMHO):

1. arrange meter readings/account openings for all your utilities
2. arrange for painters if required to prep the flat before you move in
3. arrange any closing of accounts/readings when you terminate your lease


in addition the the work involved in finding you a place to live (while weeding out all the crap places you dont want to see), and driving you around...well worth the 1/2 months rent

[shri]

Make sure you do a land search before you sign the lease. Just to ensure that the person you're paying does indeed own the property.

You'll also have to convince the landlord to handle the rest of the paperwork like paying the stamp duty etc.

There are several other things that I've probably forgotten to include here ...

One option might be to find an agent and see if they'll work with you on a fixed fee (with the bankers partying like its 2007... might not be possible this month).

There are some good threads on how to DIY the thing.. but if you're new to HK and the system might be best to let an agent handle this.

[shri]

FYI - Belair is all pretty much individually owned. Don't think PCCW / PC Premium Developments have kept aside units that they're renting out individually.

[PDLM]

for the money you pay them in agency fee, they should (IMHO):

1. arrange meter readings/account openings for all your utilities
2. arrange for painters if required to prep the flat before you move in
3. arrange any closing of accounts/readings when you terminate your lease

I disagree on 3. The agent's job is to find you the tenancy. They have no continuing role. And on 2., more generally their role is to negotiate with the landlord on anything that you require to be done to the property as a condition of the lease (and they should have a good idea what that all should cost - newcomers in particular can be given fanciful prices for things as a way of justifying not doing them).

[Raccon]

If you deal direct with a private landlord then clearly there's no agent's fee involved. Not sure what you paid first time, but the normal maximum agent's fee is half of one month's rent.

Just to add that such a fee is negotiable.

[drumbrake]

the landlord wants to avoid the fee as well, and the paperwork - making a contract, paying stamp duty, sorting out the bills- is not exactly difficult.

[Boris]

the landlord wants to avoid the fee as well, and the paperwork - making a contract, paying stamp duty, sorting out the bills- is not exactly difficult.

If your living here for some time and know everything there is to know, that might be true. If your coming in from outside and signing a contract ad hoc, then it is just asking for trouble.

[drumbrake]

If your living here for some time and know everything there is to know, that might be true. If your coming in from outside and signing a contract ad hoc, then it is just asking for trouble.

I meant that the landlord would do everything - but I agree that means trusting the landlord.