Private tenants are being ripped off by some letting agents making "extortionate" and potentially illegal upfront charges, according to a housing charity.

An undercover probe by Shelter Scotland found that nine out of 10 agents it investigated were demanding "high" fees from tenants for services on top of the rent payment and deposit. In one instance, an administration fee of £180 was charged by a company handling a property in Glasgow. The charity said thousands of people are leaving themselves open to unfair treatment and financial exploitation because they are not aware they should not have to pay extra charges. Shelter added that the problem is not restricted to Scotland and that many tenants in England are treated unfairly by landlords.

Shelter chief executive Campbell Robb said: “Many of Shelter’s clients point to the problems of ‘hidden’ charges when they are initiating or renewing a tenancy. Often people are unaware what these charges are for and struggle to find the money to pay them on top of the cost of a deposit. Shelter believes that letting agents need to be regulated so that they are more transparent and upfront about the charges they make to....Read more here---> Letting agents 'rip off tenants'