{"id":36076,"date":"2017-11-01T10:56:59","date_gmt":"2017-11-01T10:56:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=36076"},"modified":"2018-05-02T15:17:32","modified_gmt":"2018-05-02T14:17:32","slug":"government-reveal-bill-to-ban-letting-agent-fees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/government-reveal-bill-to-ban-letting-agent-fees\/36076\/","title":{"rendered":"Government reveal Bill to ban letting agent fees"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new draft Tenant Fees Bill will be introduced to Parliament setting out the Government\u2019s approach to banning letting agent fees for tenants<\/h2>\n

Government say the move will help \u201cmillions of renters by bringing an end to costly upfront payments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Evidence has highlighted that the level of fees charged is often not clearly or consistently explained, leaving many tenants unaware of the real costs of renting<\/a> a property.<\/p>\n

This latest action aims to help improve transparency, affordability and competition in the private rental market. It will also prevent agents from \u2018double charging\u2019 both tenants and landlords for the same services.<\/p>\n

Today (1 November) the Government has also launched a consultation on making membership of client money protection schemes<\/a> mandatory for letting and managing agents that handle client money.<\/p>\n

These schemes ensure greater financial protection for landlords and tenants, giving them assurance that their money is safe when it is with their agent and they can be compensated if all or part of their money is not repaid.<\/p>\n

Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid<\/a>, said:\u00a0\u201cThis Government is determined to make sure the housing market works for everyone. Tenants should no longer be hit by surprise fees they may struggle to afford and should only be required to pay their rent alongside a refundable deposit.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re delivering on our promise to ban letting agent fees, alongside other measures to make renting fairer and increase protection for renters.\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of broader plans to improve the rental market, Government has already introduced measures that restrict the small minority of rogue landlords that shirk their responsibilities.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, the law was changed to allow councils to impose new fines of up to \u00a330,000 as an alternative to prosecution for a range of housing offences.<\/p>\n

The draft Tenant Fees Bill<\/a>, which reflects responses from a public consultation also published today, will:<\/p>\n