German Estate agents

Hi - pretty sure a lot has been written about estate agents on this site and apologise for bringing it up again. However, advice on below would be welcome.

Background:

I gave up trying to find a flat I liked in Frankfurt (whilst looking from London) and simply decided to take a flat for 3 months and carry on looking when I got here. I'd already flown over a few times to view flats and couldn't find anything I liked.

In order to find a temporary place I went on the City-Residence website (http://www.city-mitwohnzentrale.de/index.php?nav_pointer_id=1&lang_id=2) and scanned what they had.

I eventually found a 2 room flat for €650 a month for 3 months including everything/all bills - the flat was being sublet by someone who had to move away from Frankfurt.

On finding the flat (myself) on the website I then contacted city-residence. As the flat was listed as a "private listing"(?) they said they could only give me the telephone number of the person who advertised the flat for letting and couldn't do anything else.

I then had to:

1) telephone the person and ask about the flat myself
2) arrange a viewing myself
3) fly to Frankfurt to view flat myself (lettor would not let it without meeting me)
4) sort out contract & inventory myself

Problem:

Given all the above and the fact that ALL the estate agency did was simply give me a phone number - they now want to charge me just under €400!!!(?) for their "service"

I knew they would charge me something but was expecting around €50-100 at most!

Does the €400 charge above sound normal?? (because I'm seriously not happy with paying that amount when they did pretty much f*ck all !

What would happen if I refuse to pay?

Thanks

Denis

Unfortunately the charge is for putting you in contact with the guy letting the flat. Nothing else. As to how much they will charge, it's down to you to find out.

Welcome to Germany.

checked their website .. the "Business Conditions" state .. "The customer shall pay the contractor a commission of 1.3 monthly rentals plus VAT (for furnished accommodation) resp. 2 monthly rentals plus VAT (for unfurnished accommodation). "

I would keep quiet .. 1.3 months rent would put you closer to €850!

As Luke says .. Welcome!

It quite clearly states the fees. So you haven't a leg to stand on
http://www.city-residence.de/index.php?lan...av_pointer_id=5
M a k l e r = from the German,
meaning blood sucking leech
EDIT Damm Maaph beat me to it.

thanks for quick repsonse - shoul've read the website closer.

the actual amount per terms & conditions should be nearer €300 (€293 to be precise given I actually only took the place for 2 months) so can at least argue that.

Think I'll just use the newpaper next time!

Have you signed a contract with them?

Jean-Pierre

dont forget a contract does not mean to say you only have to sign, through word of mouth is also accepted.

Hi Denis,

according to good old Par 1 Section 1 of the WoVermittG (yes, everything is ruled
in Germany), the estate agent may charge a max. of 2 month's rents (cold) plus VAT.
Are you sure you really had an estate agent? There are more and more rip-off-
companies of the sort just giving contact addresses and charging for that. Enter the
name of your agent in Google and see if something comes up in complaints forums.

True, verbal contracts are also legally binding. But much harder to prove *nudge* *nudge* *wink* *wink*

Jean-Pierre

You should be able to find a furnished flat without a problem, just do a search under furnished flats and Frankfurt, the best ones will offer all the information in English as well as German. I did a quick search and found several all with information in English.

Unfortunately you do have to pay a fee when going through an agency, best bet is to find the one with the lowest fees or negotiate a lower fee, they won't like it but will come down to get your business.

I did notice that they don't mention anything about fees. No problem if you've been here and are aware that the system is backwards (renter buyer pays the fees)

as for Maklers they are best avoided, waste of money as far as I'm concerned.

When looking for a permanent place check out scout24.de and take only places that don't charge any fees.

HuggyBear
I would be fuming at what you experienced but wouldn't take it laying down.
You may find that you end up having to pay but I would investigate as much as I could. Surely the amount you are being charged would be classed as robbery by reasonable people. Maybe there are 'watchdog type' of organisation which may be able to help you. I would also write to the tourism board about this and the chamber of commerce, not directly linked but might raise the profile. carbon copy any journalist who has written a related article. Good luck
I am still trying to get my 3 months deposit back from a landlord a year on.

I am still trying to get my 3 months deposit back from a landlord a year on

your not the frist person I've heard having problems with landlords guess that is the best reason to buy. Speaking of such, why won't he return it?

[QUOTE]I am still trying to get my 3 months deposit back from a landlord a year on

your not the frist person I've heard having problems with landlords guess that is the best reason to buy. Speaking of such, why won't he return it?

Reason could be the good old Nebenkostenabrechnung - he wants to make sure
any demands towards you can be covered out of the deposit. When the
Nebenkostenabrechnung is settled, however, there is no reason for him to keep
the deposit much longer.
If he doesn't respond to reminders - ask a lawyer or Mieterschutzbund (in case you are member) for help.

I have been given no reason. I was refused a 'protocol' when I returned the keys and was told it would be mailed to me...
A year on, I am still out of pocket by 3 months rent ;-( and have sent 11 monthly reminder letters. Not impressed...

Legally this is not allowed. The deposit is purely to cover renovation work which the tenant has not carried out.

Unfortunately, that small proportion of bad landlords who succeed in giving the whole breed a lousy reputation are well aware that a foreigner returning home, or moving on, is a) unlikely to know his legal rights and even if he does, will either not be able to pursue his legal rights or if, like most foreigners he has no legal insurance, will not be prepared to risk the costs of losing the case in Geermany's unpredictable courts (especially the lower ones!).

usually a letter from a lawyer will do, several people have posted that getting a lawyer involved usually did the trick.

If he refused to return the money than you will need to go to court, which in my freinds case cost the landlord dearly.

On the other hand some landlords have been known to produce bogus bills which are harder to fight.

Either way a letter from a lawyer should end it pretty quick.