York’s property market has been lively over recent months although several new specialist blocks of flats aimed at students are expected to reduce pressure on accommodation this year.

Nevertheless it is disappointing news that the government have decided not to lift the ceiling on the amount of housing benefit that can be claimed in the City. Rather than use the limit which applies to the similarly prices Harrogate area, the government persists in linking York with lower priced Selby.

In effect this discriminates against low paid workers.

On the west of the City a two bedroomed house in Tudor Road is currently advertised for rent at £650 ppm while a similar property in Thoresby Road is advertised for £700 ppm. These are the cheapest properties advertised. Some properties attract rents of over £1000 a month (The maximum housing allowance for a two bedroomed property in York is £536)

Petition on Agents fees

Another problem faced by potential tenants are the fees charged by letting agents. These fees are currently unregulated in England (although not in Scotland) and can vary considerably.

It is not uncommon for “up front” costs of £1000 to be incurred by potential tenants.

The petition organisers say,

“Walk down any high street in England and you could go into five different letting agents who would all charge you a different fee. You have to pay for the privilege of dealing with them, to secure a property and even to change the name on a piece of paper? You’re then also charged an inflated fee for a credit check, which actually costs as little as a tenner.

For instance, the fee charged by one agent to change a name on an existing tenancy is £210. ‘For what?!’ one friend of mine protested recently, before she called them and offered to go in and print off the documents herself.

I have paid as little as £80 and as much as £552 in agency fees on different properties. How is it possible that fees can vary so much from agency to agency? It’s a rip off and the agents are getting away with it”.

The petition has attracted over 225,000 supporters so far and can be signed by clicking here