Select Committee 'could have done more' to help private rented sector

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Although it welcomed the recent Select Committee report into the supply of private rented housing, ARLA has claimed that it could have done more to help consolidate the private rented sector.

Ian Potter, head of operations for the association, said that many of the committee's recommendations to government were things that the ARLA has long been in support for.

Calling for more investment in the sector, he said that the committee's proposals did little to tackle problems for buy-to-let landlords relating to the licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

"The inconsistencies in the requirements and the variation in licensing costs between local authorities have left an unsatisfactory situation for landlords operating in this section of the rental market," said Mr Potter.

The ARLA also called for tighter regulation covering landlords and full licensing of all letting agents, as the most efficient way of removing unqualified and unethical agents from the rental market.

According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, demand for rented housing is rising faster than supply, something that is causing rents to soar across the UK. It said that 28 percent more of its member surveyors had reported a rise in tenant lettings during April.

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