Changing Name On Lease - Fees

[seattle_circuit]

Ok, my flatmate is moving out and another friend is moving in to take his place. The rental agent says there is a fee ($275) to change the name on the lease. Seems ridiculous but anyway that's not the issue.

Who is responsible for paying it? The person vacating the premises?

Just interested whether others have encountered this before.

Cheers

Edited July 28, 2010 by seattle_circuit

[Astro Bear]

Seems a bit ridiculous, the $275. Might want to look into that further, i've never heard of there being any fee for changing a name on a lease.

In any instance, it wouldn't be your responsibility, it would be your housemate's / new housemate.

[R31Nismoid]

Never heard of a fee either.

[bluejeans]

275$ to change a name on a bit of paper.. lol

i can understand if they want the new person to pay his share of the bond / if the old person gets his share back or something but that seems like a good way to steal money otherwise..

[jrm]

Definitely shouldn't be a fee - I've changed the names on leases before.

The only fees that may be involved relate to the bond - the person leaving has to get their bond back, and the new person has to contribute their share of the bond - perhaps that's the $275?

(If it's not the bond fee, then you'll definitely want to sort that out - as this would definitely need to be sorted out - any damage to the premises that the person leaving has done will otherwise be the responsibility of the people left, etc)

[blind_elk]

Contact the Vic Tennants Union - 9416 2577. They will be able to tell you if the fee is legal, and if so who is responsible for paying it.

[seattle_circuit]

Yeah, it's not the bond. They say it's their fee for putting the new lease agreement together. The property is being inspected so it's all going through the proper process. Guess i'll look over our agreement, see if it was in the fine print.

But yeah, really just wanted peoples take on who should pay. Never encountered this before.

[seattle_circuit]

Contact the Vic Tennants Union - 9416 2577. They will be able to tell you if the fee is legal, and if so who is responsible for paying it.

Thanks - will do