Private tenants 'being let down by lack of regulation'

A lack of regulation among letting agents is causing private tenants to suffer, it has been claimed.

According to a report produced by Citizens Advice, letting agents are "routinely ripping off" tenants by imposing charges which are excessive and unjustified, as well as by providing a poor or "non-existent" service.

The organisation, which operates a network of 426 bureaux in England and Wales, has called on the government to extend recently-announced plans to regulate the sector.

According to the charity, rules must include provisions for a ban on the additional charges tenants often have to pay on top of their rent.

Research conducted by the organisation found that 94 per cent of letting agents imposed up to seven additional charges on tenants, not including the tenancy deposit and rent in advance.

Citizens Advice chief executive David Harker commented: "There are so few controls over who can set themselves up as a letting agent and the charges they can make that it is tantamount to a licence to print money."
ADNFCR-2353-ID-19186387-ADNFCR

26/05/2009 13:22

News category:

Return to News