Conservative MPs are continuing to question when new estate agency regulations will come in as the Government sticks to its stock response.
It is now approaching four years since Lord Best’s Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA) working party recommended a new industry regulator and code of practice, compulsory training and licensing, and significantly beefed up enforcement.
The Government has previously expressed its commitment to introducing new rules but legislation was delayed by the pandemic.
The issue returned to Parliament this month after Conservative MP Tom Hunt asked in a written question last Friday what steps had been taken to implement the recommendations.
Housing Minister Lucy Frazer gave the Government’s stock response.
She said: “As part of a fair and just housing system, the Government is committed to making sure that homeowners and tenants are protected from abuse and poor service.
“This commitment includes raising professionalism and standards amongst property agents (letting, estate and managing agents), protecting consumers while defending the reputation of good agents from the actions of rogue operatives.
“We therefore welcome the ongoing work being undertaken by the industry itself to raise professionalism and standards across the sector, including on codes of practice for property agents.
“The Government is considering the recommendations in the final report on the regulation of property agents from Lord Best’s working group. We will continue to work with industry on improving best practice.”
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is at least consistent as the response is almost verbatim to the one given by former departmental minister Eddie Hughes to the same question last year from Conservative MP Matthew Offord.
Hughes said: “The Government remains committed to creating a fair and just housing system that works for everyone.
“This commitment includes raising professionalism and standards amongst property agents, letting, estate and managing agents, protecting consumers, and defending the reputation of good agents from the actions of rogue operatives.
“We welcome the ongoing work being undertaken by the industry itself to raise professionalism and standards across the sector, including on potential codes of practice for property agents, and continue to engage with industry on this.
“The government is considering the recommendations in the final report on the regulation of property agents from Lord Best’s working group.”
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I've been in this business for 50 years and the government have been kicking the can down the road ever since. It'll never happen.
50 years!? Are you sure? You don't look old enough Mike.
What a crock. We need legislation for agencies as it’s like the Wild West still. So many agencies have just collect rent and hope they aren’t caught out on compliance.
"the Government is committed to making sure that homeowners and tenants are protected from abuse and poor service. " Don't we get poor service and abuse from the Gov!?
RoPA is a terrible report full of self serving recommendations made by parties with significant vested interests and which will do absolutely nothing to solve any of the problems the public or the profession complain about. It has one purpose and one purpose alone, revenue generation.
Anyone who reads the report and actually thinks about it for more than 30 seconds will have a moment of clarity, especially when you see the names of those who pulled it all together.
If the Tories try to push this through it will reveal yet more Tory cronyism at the heart of Govt.
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