By Tony Booth

Letting agency service agreements are often signed all too readily by novice landlords without them being read thoroughly beforehand - and months or years down the line, many regret not taking the opportunity to negotiate better terms and fee structures at the outset.

The crunch more often arrives when a tenancy comes up for renewal and the landlord finds he has been charged hundreds of pounds for what many perceive as incidental administration.

Tenancy renewal fees are a standard element of most service agreements.

They are not usually included within management fee structures and are therefore charged separately.