Letting agent licensing welcomed

News Category: Industry News

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The Association of Residential Letting Agents' (Arla) new licensing scheme for letting firms has been commended by housing minister Iain Wright.

Arla has created new guidance, which aims to uphold the highest standards for UK-based letting agents and stop unethical practice.

Mr Wright said: "Many residential letting agents operate with great professionalism and there are already ways of seeking redress when these standards haven't been met, but we have to go further."

He added that the new scheme will "promote greater professionalism" and encourage an upturn in consumer confidence.

An event was held to launch the new scheme earlier this week, and Arla chief executive Peter Bolton King said political support for the initiative shows what an important matter licensed letting is.

"Working with an Arla-approved agent means that [consumers] will receive the best possible advice and service," the chief explained.

In a separate statement, the association said that one of the reasons for the new campaign is because hundreds of thousands of pounds of consumers' money is lost each year to unethical letting agents.

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