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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Letting agents set for regulation | Letting agents set for regulation |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| New guidelines are being brought in aimed at protecting tenants and homeowners who use letting agencies. | New guidelines are being brought in aimed at protecting tenants and homeowners who use letting agencies. |
| The Association of Residential Letting Agents (Arla) is introducing a licensing scheme for its UK members and a code of practice for letting agents. | The Association of Residential Letting Agents (Arla) is introducing a licensing scheme for its UK members and a code of practice for letting agents. |
| This would hopefully stop the rentals market being seen as "the black sheep of the property market", Arla said. | This would hopefully stop the rentals market being seen as "the black sheep of the property market", Arla said. |
| Separately, the Times said ministers were planning a registration scheme for private landlords in England and Wales. | Separately, the Times said ministers were planning a registration scheme for private landlords in England and Wales. |
| Protection | Protection |
| Arla's licensing move has been welcomed by housing charity Shelter and a similar scheme for estate agents is in the offing. | Arla's licensing move has been welcomed by housing charity Shelter and a similar scheme for estate agents is in the offing. |
| Arla chief explains lettings scheme | Arla chief explains lettings scheme |
| Members of Arla's licensed agents' scheme will have to: | Members of Arla's licensed agents' scheme will have to: |
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| Under the scheme, if an Arla licensed agent went out of business, any money it owed to clients would be protected. | Under the scheme, if an Arla licensed agent went out of business, any money it owed to clients would be protected. |
| "Lettings agencies are going out of business and owing their landlord clients thousands of pounds, or even tens of thousands of pounds, in rent," said Peter Bolton-King, Arla's chief executive. | "Lettings agencies are going out of business and owing their landlord clients thousands of pounds, or even tens of thousands of pounds, in rent," said Peter Bolton-King, Arla's chief executive. |
| "So this offers protection to landlords in the worst-case scenario." | "So this offers protection to landlords in the worst-case scenario." |
| Deposits paid by tenants were already supposed to be protected under a government deposit protection scheme - though Mr Bolton-King said that this did not always happen. | Deposits paid by tenants were already supposed to be protected under a government deposit protection scheme - though Mr Bolton-King said that this did not always happen. |
| 'Gold standard' | 'Gold standard' |
| "For too long the rental sector has been seen as the black sheep of the property market, with a lack of regulation and a requirement for redress to protect the consumer when the agent's failings are to the financial detriment of that consumer," said Ruth Lilley, head of membership and professional development at Arla. | "For too long the rental sector has been seen as the black sheep of the property market, with a lack of regulation and a requirement for redress to protect the consumer when the agent's failings are to the financial detriment of that consumer," said Ruth Lilley, head of membership and professional development at Arla. |
| GENERAL ADVICE FOR TENANTS Tenants in England can expect: A tenancy agreementThat deposits be held by a tenancy deposit schemeThat landlords should carry out repairsThat landlords should give notice of inspecting or entering a propertyThat rented properties should have a gas safety certificateThat they should not be harassed or illegally evicted Source: Shelter England | |
| She added the Arla scheme would "create the gold standard for letting agents in the UK, offering consumers best-practice service and advice - as well as a commitment to the protection of their money". | She added the Arla scheme would "create the gold standard for letting agents in the UK, offering consumers best-practice service and advice - as well as a commitment to the protection of their money". |
| It has 3,500 member offices across the UK from large multi-branch companies to smaller, single office practices. | It has 3,500 member offices across the UK from large multi-branch companies to smaller, single office practices. |
| The National Association of Estate Agents plans to introduce its own licensing scheme later this year. | The National Association of Estate Agents plans to introduce its own licensing scheme later this year. |
| Referring to the lettings scheme, Adam Sampson, chief executive of Shelter, said "industry-led best practice" was a "positive step in the right direction". | Referring to the lettings scheme, Adam Sampson, chief executive of Shelter, said "industry-led best practice" was a "positive step in the right direction". |
| "All consumers should have the right to expect a professional letting service and have access to redress when problems arise," he said. | "All consumers should have the right to expect a professional letting service and have access to redress when problems arise," he said. |
| However, he added that the government should act to introduce statutory licensing for all letting agents. | However, he added that the government should act to introduce statutory licensing for all letting agents. |
| Landlords scheme | |
| The Times reported that anyone letting a residential property would have to pay about £50 to register with a national body, under government plans aimed at cracking down on unscrupulous landlords. | |
| Landlords who did not keep their property in good condition could be struck off and have their licence revoked if property was not kept in good condition. | |
| The paper said the reforms would be outlined in a Green Paper within 10 days. | |
| Any government action would follow an independent review into the private rented sector headed by Julie Rugg of the University of York - but a spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government would not confirm details of their response. | |
| Private landlords in Scotland are already required to register. However, last week, the charity Shelter Scotland said that rogue landlords were continuing to operate there three years after the scheme was introduced. | |
| Are you are tenant? Do you have a story to tell about renting a property? Are you a landlord who uses letting agents? Tell us your stories using the form below: | Are you are tenant? Do you have a story to tell about renting a property? Are you a landlord who uses letting agents? Tell us your stories using the form below: |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |