Government must not over-regulate the rental market

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The government has been urged not to "regulate the rental market out of business".

Speaking at Arla's annual conference in west London today (February 5th), Robert Jordan, the outgoing president, referred to the continuous legislation that was being imposed on the market.

He issued a note of caution to prime minister Gordon Brown and housing minister Caroline Flint, saying: "One step too far on the legislative bandwagon and you will kill off the private rented sector."

It is anticipated by many that the cumulative effect of such regulation could discourage responsible landlords from remaining in the market.

Mr Jordan warned: "The government's own figures may suggest that there are over half a million landlords in the private rented sector but the market cannot afford to lose any of them, particularly in troubled times."

He went on to assert that unqualified agents and "amateur landlords" were to blame for the majority of the private rented sector's problems.

"The missing link is that government should bite the bullet and licence all letting agents and landlords," he said.

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