New ombudsman to help in battle against rogue landlords
Government announces that letting agents are now to be properly regulated
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Anybody who rents a property will soon have a special ombudsman on their side with powers to enforce cheating landlords to repay tenants. The Government's last minute amendment to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill means that every letting and management agent must sign up to a redress scheme.
"The lettings market has for far too long been in danger of becoming the Wild West of property industry," said Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Global Residential Director Peter Bolton King. "This is a step towards ensuring tenants and landlords are comprehensively protected. What we would now like to see is lettings and managing agents required to sign up to a professional regulation scheme that would ensure a better standard of professionalism right across the sector."
Lucy Morton, senior partner and head of lettings at estate agent W.A.Ellis, said: “Although this is a step in the direct direction, the Government has failed to address the issue of client money protection and professional indemnity insurance. There is a still a long way to go in ensuring better standards across the industry, and I fear that without full regulation we’re stopping short of putting an end to rogue agents and bad practice.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments