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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Tenants to be given right to challenge rogue letting agents | Tenants to be given right to challenge rogue letting agents |
| (12 days later) | |
| Tenants are to be given the right to challenge rogue letting agents for the first time after the government agreed at the 11th hour to a legislative amendment requiring all agents to sign up to a mandatory redress scheme. | Tenants are to be given the right to challenge rogue letting agents for the first time after the government agreed at the 11th hour to a legislative amendment requiring all agents to sign up to a mandatory redress scheme. |
| Ministers said they supported Labour's proposals to tighten the regulation of letting agents, in a move hailed by the opposition as a U-turn and a partial victory for both tenants and landlords. | Ministers said they supported Labour's proposals to tighten the regulation of letting agents, in a move hailed by the opposition as a U-turn and a partial victory for both tenants and landlords. |
| An amendment to the enterprise and regulatory reform bill – proposed in the Lords by Baroness Hayter – gives renters and landlords greater protection by requiring letting agents to sign up to an ombudsman scheme while handing the Office of Fair Trading the power to ban those who act improperly. | An amendment to the enterprise and regulatory reform bill – proposed in the Lords by Baroness Hayter – gives renters and landlords greater protection by requiring letting agents to sign up to an ombudsman scheme while handing the Office of Fair Trading the power to ban those who act improperly. |
| After resisting moves for tougher regulation, and claiming self-regulation was effective, the government said it had accepted but redrafted the amendment before the bill was due to return for debate in the Commons. The changes have already received widespread support from estate agents, letting agents, the British Property Federation, RICS, Which? and Consumer Focus. | After resisting moves for tougher regulation, and claiming self-regulation was effective, the government said it had accepted but redrafted the amendment before the bill was due to return for debate in the Commons. The changes have already received widespread support from estate agents, letting agents, the British Property Federation, RICS, Which? and Consumer Focus. |
| Jack Dromey, shadow housing minister, said: "The lettings market has been described as the property market's 'wild west'. Labour, together with industry leaders, has been calling for government action. | Jack Dromey, shadow housing minister, said: "The lettings market has been described as the property market's 'wild west'. Labour, together with industry leaders, has been calling for government action. |
| "Thanks to work done by organisations across the sector and by Baroness Hayter the government has finally been forced to act." | "Thanks to work done by organisations across the sector and by Baroness Hayter the government has finally been forced to act." |
| But Dromey said that while the move was "a step in the right direction", more needed to be done to crack down on unscrupulous agents. He said: "It will mean more wrongs can be righted but will do little to prevent unscrupulous agents ripping off tenants and landlords in the first place. We also need fundamental changes and stronger protection for renters and landlords. We need upfront transparency over letting agents' fees, safeguards like client money protection insurance and, crucially, powers to ban all agents who act improperly." | But Dromey said that while the move was "a step in the right direction", more needed to be done to crack down on unscrupulous agents. He said: "It will mean more wrongs can be righted but will do little to prevent unscrupulous agents ripping off tenants and landlords in the first place. We also need fundamental changes and stronger protection for renters and landlords. We need upfront transparency over letting agents' fees, safeguards like client money protection insurance and, crucially, powers to ban all agents who act improperly." |
| Housing minister Mark Prisk denied that the move was a U-turn and said the government had responded after listening to those in the industry: "This will tackle most consumer complaints about letting agents through proportionate, rather than heavy-handed regulation. The Office of Fair Trading flagged up redress as a key issue. We will now go out to consultation with all the relevant parties." | Housing minister Mark Prisk denied that the move was a U-turn and said the government had responded after listening to those in the industry: "This will tackle most consumer complaints about letting agents through proportionate, rather than heavy-handed regulation. The Office of Fair Trading flagged up redress as a key issue. We will now go out to consultation with all the relevant parties." |
| Top mortgages | Top mortgages |
| Chelsea Building Society | Chelsea Building Society |
| Yorkshire BS | |
| Nationwide | Nationwide |
| Provided by London & Country for the Guardian | Provided by London & Country for the Guardian |