Professional bodies are best placed to regulate the private rented sector

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There is no need for letting agents to be controlled by an official regulatory body, ARLA has claimed.

Speaking at a conference on Tuesday (February 5th), Peter Bolton King, group chief executive, condemned the government's recent initiatives aimed at the private rented sector.

He maintained that professional bodies such as ARLA were best placed to resolve issues in the sector, adding: "We cannot wait for government."

"In the private rented sector, it is up to ARLA to continue leading by example and to facilitate industry-wide regulation.

"Government has caused confusion with its inconsistent legislation for Houses in Multiple Occupation and introduced mandatory Tenancy Deposit Protection, without any way of policing it, except through the professional bodies and the reputable landlord organisations."

Mr King went on to say that, if the advice of professional bodies had been acted upon, many of the problems affecting the sector could have been resolved long ago.

He concluded: "There is only one way to run the private rented sector. That is the tried, tested and practical ARLA way."

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