MPs call for powers to ban rogue letting agents
A cross party group of MPs and peers is today calling for a full scale review of all regulations affecting the private rented sector.
In particular, it wants letting agents to be subject to the same regulation as estate agents, so that they can be banned from the industry.
The All Party Parliamentary Group for the Private Rented Sector says it is an “anomaly” that estate agents can be banned from practising, but not letting agents.
It makes it clear that a ban should extend to letting agents “found to be behaving inappropriately or abusing their position”.
The power to ban estate agents was formerly with the OFT, but is now with the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team operated by Powys Council.
The group is also calling for a system of nationwide banning orders on landlords who breach their legal obligations.
It says such landlords should be treated like company directors who can be barred, and prevented from renting out properties anywhere in the country.
The group is also calling for the Sentencing Council to provide clear guidance to the courts on the tools available in responding to breaches of the law as they relate to private rented housing.
The group’s chairman, Oliver Colvile MP, said: “Today’s report provides a number of ideas to ensure that the sector is fit for the 21st century and the group hopes and looks forward to all political parties giving serious consideration to this detailed work