MP’s Table New Proposals To Regulate Private Lettings Market

Two new proposals have been individually tabled by Labour MP’s calling for the regulation of landlords and lettings agents.

Former Labour housing minister John Healey and veteran Labour backbencher, Sir Alan Meale, made the proposals in the House of Commons separately but both are calling for better regulation of the private rental sector

Mr Healey’s Bill seeks to introduce mandatory licensing for lettings and property managing agents and a ban on lettings agents charging fees and is called “The Letting Agents (Competition, Choice and Standards) Bill 2013-14”.

The objective of the proposal is to establish a national mandatory licensing scheme for lettings and managing agents, with established standards and redress for landlords, tenants and leaseholders, and prohibition of lettings and management agent fees; to enable local authorities to administer and enforce the scheme; to require that tenants, landlords and leaseholders have written agreements; and to empower local authorities, either alone or in partnership, to trade as letting and managing agents.”