After renting the same flat in Horsham for the past seven years, I was suddenly hit up for a £90 “administration fee” over and above my agreed rent.

The landlord promised to “start proceedings to gain possession” if we failed to pay.

We’ve signed the lease and told them we want to stay but they’re saying, “We won’t accept your lease unless you pay us.”

This is just a licence to print money, and once they get away with it where is it going to end?

Will Sainsbury’s start charging a “processing fee” to check out our groceries?

Will Marks and Spencer institute a “browsing tax” for people who come in to gawk but not buy?

Will the banks begin charging us for ... wait a minute, they already do that.

This is a dangerous precedent to allow them to set, but it seems there is little we can do about it.

Michael Harling
Pelham Court
Horsham