\"Light touch\" needed for letting agent regulation

News Category: Industry News

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Arla has agreed with a recent report calling for enforced self-regulation for letting agents, but added that all letting agents should be licensed.

Recently, the Law Commission produced a report - titled Encouraging Responsible Letting - which called for more self-regulation in the letting agent sector.

In response to the report, Arla said that it would encourage the government to consider legislation requiring all letting agents to be members of a professional body before they can begin to trade.

It added that it does not believe that this self-regulation should be operated under the auspices of an Ombudsman.

"We would like to see all letting agents licensed. However, the private rented sector needs regulation with a light touch. We must be able to keep our house in order without discouraging the private individuals who run, invest in and maintain the rental market," explained Arla president Robert Jordan.

"This experienced regulation can be organised and policed by professional bodies such as Arla who provide qualifications, complaints and disciplinary procedures and maintain the safeguards for tenants' deposits and landlords' rents.

"This blueprint is needed for the whole of the rental market, not only for our members and their landlords and tenants."

Recently, Arla reported that landlords were generally confident in the future success of the sector, providing that the government did not look to change tax rules.

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