The fact that MPs have demonstrated their concern at the lack of
regulation for the lettings market in Parliament, has been welcomed
as a step in the right direction by professional letting
agents.
"It is encouraging that more than 60 MPs have now signed an
Early Day Motion (EDM) which highlights their concern at the
Government's decision to abandon the plans for a national register
for landlords and further regulation of the private rented sector
(PRS)," said Jill Elkington, East Midlands spokesperson for the
Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA).and residential
letting manager at Hodgson Elkington LLP, the Lincoln-based
chartered surveyors.
The EDM outlines the role that the Public Rented Sector (PRS)
plays in supporting the UK housing market but that rogue landlords
and lettings agents pose a threat to consumers.
The Property Ombudsman has already noted that the number of
complaints against such landlords and lettings agents has
risen.
By signing the EDM, the MPs support a call to create a national
register of landlords and further regulation of landlords and
letting agents.
"ARLA has long campaigned for the introduction of compulsory
regulation of lettings agents, along the same lines as our own
member-led licensing scheme launched last year. Currently,
any person or organisation can become a letting agent," said Jill
Elkington.
"The Housing Minister Grant Shapps MP has pledged to work with
ARLA to develop an industry-led solution to remove unprofessional
letting agents from the market. We also welcome the
Government's support for ARLA's licensing scheme, but we will
continue to press the Government to recognise the importance of
government regulation for the PRS.
"We greatly appreciate the support that the MPs have offered
with this EDM. Until the current status quo is changed via
national regulation, unprofessional, unqualified and unethical
operators will continue to prey at the expense of the general
public," said Jill Elkington.
"We continue to see a marked increase in the residential rental
market both for houses and good quality flats in good locations in
Lincolnshire with more tenants wanting properties to rent
than we can currently supply and we need more good quality, well
located homes of all types to satisfy this growing demand," said
Jill Elkington.