This information is outdated (it was common practice until 2009 or so) and such an arrangement actually violates the new Estate Agent Act.Hannieroo wrote:Below 2.5k you pay two weeks rent for a year's lease and and 4 weeks for a 2 years lease. Over 2.5k you pay nothing, the LL pays his agent and yours. Pick your agent carefully, you are stuck with them for the contract.
Under this Act (law), you pay an agent you engaged (to search for an apartment for you) and the fee is freely negotiable - there are no rules about its height and/or relation to the rent (although the agent will certainly tell you otherwise). This is regardless of the rental amount.
The landlord pays an agent he engaged (to advertise the property and search for a tenant). In this case you pay nothing, again regardless of the rental amount.
An agent is never allowed to charge both landlord and tenant.
Don't let those agents screw you - although exactly that is apparently their hobby. (They are also difficult to avoid!)