Council claims its own letting agency’s fees undercut competitors

City of York Council claims that its own letting agency YorHome charges between 6-7% less than local agents in the region.

The council states that its YorHome’s letting fee of 9% for homes in York is the city’s lowest management fee with no extra charges. The local authority points to its own market research, carried out this summer, which it says shows it could save landlords between about £700-£1,930 a year in letting fees.

However, the council fails to provide transparent comparable figures relating to the fees charged by other agents in the area.

As part of promoting its own service, the council is also keen to point out that new landlords signing up with YorHome could also get free home improvements and 12 months rent up front, and all YorHome’s landlords get their fifth consecutive year fee-free.

The council says that YorHome’s single fee of 9% delivers landlords a fully managed, comprehensive letting service. This includes:

helping prepare the home to be rented

a deposit scheme and deposit registration fee

tenancy agreements and extensions

preparing an inventory and inspecting the property

paying for an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

The council claims that most other agents in the region charge additional fees for many of these extra services.

YorHome is looking for empty homes or homes with six months remaining on the lease in York, to support people in York facing homelessness or refugees, such as those from Ukraine.

Just as our research shows that our fees are among the city’s lowest, the council also support many of its tenants by keeping their rents affordable, and the local authority is happy to discuss rental levels with landlords, according to Cllr Michael Pavlovic, executive member for housing at City of York Council.

He said: “We give our landlords what we believe is the best return in the city. With our single management fee, we take care of everything while providing someone a much-needed home in York.”