GIVEN the housing situation in York, it's not surprising that we often have to give advice on housing problems.

At York CAB we help lots of clients who have problems finding somewhere to live at an affordable price.

We never think we've seen it all, but last week we came across something quite new: high fees to get a foot on the rental ladder.

Letting agents have to earn their living, and we sympathise. But we came across a client who had been asked for £200 as a "good faith" deposit, to be paid to indicate a "serious intention to proceed" with renting a property.

The £200 would be deducted from other fees and charges, which our client would have to pay if he moved in.

These fees included a month's advance on the rent, a deposit fee, the cost of the tenancy agreement, plus VAT, a reference fee, plus VAT (to check his credit worthiness), an administration fee and a check-in fee (also both plus VAT).

This came to £1,186.45 with the good faith deposit deducted. That's quite a tall order.

Not everyone knows that the CAB has a scheme which can negotiate with landlords over security deposits, and can sometimes pay the first month's rent, claiming this back from Housing Benefit.

Checking credit worthiness costs £2.50 from each of the credit reference agencies, so that's another saving which can be made.

As we say, everyone has to earn a living, but York CAB is here to advise York's citizens. We work in all sorts of ways to make the situation better - for everyone. Why not come and talk to us?

Updated: 09:45 Thursday, June 23, 2005