The National Approved Letting Scheme has moved to create a toolkit which is designed to assist local authorities in tackling rogue agents.
This scheme claims that cuts to public spending have left some local authorities without the knowledge and skillset to efficiently regulate the private rented sector.
Scheming
In a press release, the National Approved Letting Scheme claim that only 16% of local authorities have moved to issue penalties for failure to comply with redress scheme membership.
It must be noted however that this figure involved results from only 37 councils from research conducted between August and September 2015.
The toolkit proposed by the National Approved Letting Scheme includes:
- warning letters to agents who fail to comply with legal duties.
- advice on serving civil penalties
- requirements on belonging to a redress scheme
- the need for agents to display fees
- client money protection advice
- powers of councils
New toolkit targets rogue agents
Raising standards
Isobel Thomson, chief executive of the National Approved Letting Scheme, said, ‘only by raising standards across the sector can we start to tackle the small minority whose rogue activities tarnish our reputation. This toolkit is designed to be a ‘one stop shop’ for local authorities working with the private rented sector. They are, after all, in the enforcement front line.’[1]
[1] https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2016/6/rogue-letting-agents-being-targeted-by-new-toolkit-for-councils