Letting fees?

We are currently renting and only had to pay the first month's rent in advance and the deposit before we moved in. We're now looking to move to another area and the letting agency we're considering requires ADDITIONAL fees of 147.00 (1st tenant) + 118.00 (2nd tenant) to cover reference checking costs. Is this standard? They also want 59.00 fee if we have a small animal (we're considering getting a cat). This comes as a surprise because, as I said above, we only had to pay our first month's rent and a deposit for our place now. We like the properties offered by this agency, but money is scarce and we're struggling to come up with the money for the deposit and rent as it is. I'm just worried we're going to get ripped off by unnecessary fees. Anyone else paid similar fees?

Thanks!

We had to pay a reference check fee in addition to the deposits you said.  I don't remember how much it was but that sounds about right.  We only had to pay for me as I was the one responsible for the rent (DH = no job).

i had to pay a 70 quidd reference checking fee.  i was desperate to move out of a hotel and into a house, and there's really only one rental agency that works in my town so i felt that i was stuck.  if i had time or was in a different area i would have negioated this though.

is the 59 quidd an extra deposit?  becuase if it's a cat reference check that would be difficult.

so yes... i do think it's quasi standard for a rental agency but i think it sucks.  i rented loads in the US and was never asked.

Sigh. Well, I guess if we want one of their properties we don't have much choice. We viewed a couple of others from a different agency last night and they were awful. This agency, on the other hand, appears to have a higher quality of properties available. Maybe it will be worth the fees if they take better care of the properties they manage. Thanks for the info. Much appreciated!

Yes all the agents around here (Kent) seem to charge these fees, but the amounts vary wildly. They usually charge you a fee for the privilege of moving out as well. 

my boyfriend rents out his house and from our experience they charge HIM as well to run the references & the check-out fee.  so.... at least this agency charges both sides of the equation.  somehow that doesn't seem fair but SOL.