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| 'Rogue' property agents to be targeted, ministers say | 'Rogue' property agents to be targeted, ministers say |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Plans to protect leaseholders and tenants in England from unfair costs are to be outlined by ministers later. | Plans to protect leaseholders and tenants in England from unfair costs are to be outlined by ministers later. |
| They say they want to clamp down on a "small minority of rogue agents" in the property management system who force consumers to pay over-inflated charges. | They say they want to clamp down on a "small minority of rogue agents" in the property management system who force consumers to pay over-inflated charges. |
| They will consider changing the law so all letting and management agents must be qualified and regulated to practise. | They will consider changing the law so all letting and management agents must be qualified and regulated to practise. |
| Between £2.5bn and £3.5bn a year in service charges are levied on the 4.2 million leasehold homes in England. | Between £2.5bn and £3.5bn a year in service charges are levied on the 4.2 million leasehold homes in England. |
| Increased transparency | Increased transparency |
| In a speech on Wednesday, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid will launch a six-week "call for evidence", saying he wants to hear from people about whether a regulatory overhaul of the sector is needed. | In a speech on Wednesday, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid will launch a six-week "call for evidence", saying he wants to hear from people about whether a regulatory overhaul of the sector is needed. |
| He will pledge to protect consumers from unfair costs and excessive service charges and look at ways to place more power in the hands of consumers by giving leaseholders more say over their agent. | He will pledge to protect consumers from unfair costs and excessive service charges and look at ways to place more power in the hands of consumers by giving leaseholders more say over their agent. |
| The review will also examine if a new independent regulatory body is needed - and if separate bodies should be established, for both leasehold and private rented management, and letting agents. | The review will also examine if a new independent regulatory body is needed - and if separate bodies should be established, for both leasehold and private rented management, and letting agents. |
| Other measures to be considered include whether leaseholder tenants should have a greater say over the appointment of managing agents and how transparency can be increased in the system so that tenants and leaseholders know what they are being charged for and why. | Other measures to be considered include whether leaseholder tenants should have a greater say over the appointment of managing agents and how transparency can be increased in the system so that tenants and leaseholders know what they are being charged for and why. |
| "Our proposed changes to regulate the industry will give landlords, renters and leaseholders the confidence they need to know that their agents must comply with the rules," Mr Javid will say. | "Our proposed changes to regulate the industry will give landlords, renters and leaseholders the confidence they need to know that their agents must comply with the rules," Mr Javid will say. |
| Ministers say the problems apply not just to leaseholders but also some of the 4.5 million tenants in the rental sector, with overcharged costs for repairs and services often being passed down to tenants. | Ministers say the problems apply not just to leaseholders but also some of the 4.5 million tenants in the rental sector, with overcharged costs for repairs and services often being passed down to tenants. |
| Research by consumer group Which? shows that unfair practices can lead to as much as £700m of unnecessary service charges being paid each year. | |
| Others, such as the All-Party Parliamentary Group on leaseholds, believe the total could be as much as £1.4bn. |