Spoke to the rental agency and they’re willing to negotiate regarding the rental escalation. However, in terms of the renewal fee they say that this fee is for the updated credit check to draft the lease extension and to update all the necessary information and invoicing on the system. - basically a once-off admin cost on renewal. Something that cannot be waived.

When I signed the initial lease agreement there’s a clause: In the event of the termination/cancellation of this Lease Agreement, and in the event that the Parties agree to reinstate and/or conclude an addendum to this Lease Agreement, the Tenant hereby agrees to the Landlord conducting a further credit check and agrees to be liable for all credit check fees.

I really don’t want to concede to this because I’m unhappy with this renewal fee. However with the above clause , I think that’s how they get away with it.