Confusion over timescale of letting agent fees ban
By |Published On: 8th February 2017|

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Confusion over timescale of letting agent fees ban

By |Published On: 8th February 2017|

This article is an external press release originally published on the Landlord News website, which has now been migrated to the Just Landlords blog.

Yesterday saw the publication of the long-awaited Housing White Paper, which included pledges on fixing the ‘broken’ housing market.

These included introducing longer tenancies and building more affordable housing for first-time buyers.

However, the Paper still remained vague on the subject of the banning of letting agents’ fees in England.

Banning of Fees

The measure to ban letting agent fees was introduced during last year’s Autumn Statement, but as yet there is little in the way of a specific timeframe for the changes to be implemented.

In the White Paper, the Government says the following on the ban:

Where there are concerns, these tend to focus on affordability and security. In the long term, building more homes will help with affordability, but renters often face upfront costs including fees charged by letting agents to tenants.’

‘Tenants have no control over these fees because the agent is appointed by and works for the landlord. This is wrong.’

‘The government has already introduced transparency on fees. We will consult early this year, ahead of bringing forward legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows, to ban letting agent fees to tenants. This will improve competition in the market and give renters greater clarity and control over what they pay.’[1]

Confusion over timescale of letting agent fees ban

Confusion over timescale of letting agent fees ban

Implementation

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has suggested that the timeframe for the ban on fees will follow one of two routes.

First, full consultation and primary legislation, which could take until 2018 to complete.

Alternatively, there could be, ‘curtailed consultation and secondary legislation under existing statute,’ which could be completed this year.

Uncertainty surrounding the timetable, coupled with the on-going Brexit debacle, suggests that a ban on agent fees is unlikely until next year.

[1] https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/2/letting-fees-ban-still-unlikely-to-be-introduced-until-2018

 

 

 

 

About the Author: Em Morley (she/they)

Em is the Content Marketing Manager for Just Landlords, with over five years of experience writing for insurance and property websites. Together with the knowledge and expertise of the Just Landlords underwriting team, Em aims to provide those in the property industry with helpful resources. When she’s not at her computer researching and writing property and insurance guides, you’ll find her exploring the British countryside, searching for geocaches.

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