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Potter calls for 'radical reform' on letting agents

04 February 2009
Written by Rosalind Renshaw

Minimum standards need to be introduced for letting agents, delegates at the annual conference of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) heard yesterday.

The conference, in Hammersmith, west London, went ahead despite terrible weather conditions which paralysed transport throughout the south of England and in London itself, leading to a lower turnout than expected: even so, of the 400 who had booked to attend, 300 made it through the snow.

One absentee – although for parliamentary, not weather reasons – was junior housing minister Iain Wright, who had been due to speak. He was represented by Simon Llewelly, head of Private Renting and Leasehold at  CLG, who confirmed that the Government would look at the Rugg Review, which has called for compulsory licensing of all landlords and all letting and managing agents.

Dr Julie Rugg yesterday called for a new era of professionalism amongst letting agents, and said their role in the current housing market is crucial.

She said: “Everybody is looking at the private rented sector to help us deal with our housing problems. Agents are a big part of that, making up around 60% of the market in one way or another, and it’s high time they started thinking about how they step up to the plate.

“What is required is increased professionalism from agents, a better quality of service and, in particular, more commitment to ensuring each property they let is of appropriate physical quality. I see this area of selling surveying services to landlords as a big new business opportunity for agents.”

Ian Potter, operations manager of ARLA, referred to the boom in lettings and the unprecedented number of ‘reluctant’ landlords. He said: “The state of the market demands that recognised minimum standards be introduced for all lettings agents.  Historically, a light regulatory touch has undermined confidence in private renting, and with an increase in rental properties there is no better time for radical reform.  

“ARLA is wholly committed to not only the regulation but also the licensing of all lettings agents and we will be launching our own licence in May.”

Comments

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    whilst i agree with most of the comments stated there are far too many so called regulating bodies trying to protect the general public, each one charging for their services so good business for them.
    as an arla member myself it is not always the case that agents who are members of the relevent trade bodies act in a professional manner, and as for being taken to task thats an even bigger joke, you would have to commit murder to be thrown out of any of the regulating bodies arla included, past histories of agents count for nothing when allowing them to become members just because an agent displays arla,nails, ukala et al and pays their fees does not a good or proffessional agent make.

    • 05 February 2009 11:03 AM
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    As member of NALS, UKALA and GLM I do NOT want to join ARLA.

    Potty Potter will not be happy until ALL lettings agents have to join ARLA. I also run a forum for landlords, tenants, agents etc and you would be srprised at the number of complaints against arla members where arla have declined to get involved!

    • 04 February 2009 23:38 PM
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    Regulation has a lot more positives than negatives. ARLA (moreso than NALS) dispenses lots of good information to its members. It also disciplines members who step out of line providing somebody makes a complaint.

    Unregulated agents can be taken to court and that's just about it. When all letting agent come under the Ombudsman Scheme then the consumer will be further protected.

    • 04 February 2009 16:21 PM
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    I agree, as an agent myself that we should be governed BUT NOT just by ARLA, NALS is a government recognised body and no one ever mentions them its always arla arla arla!

    I hear daily complaints fron tenants and landlords about agents who are governed by Arla and did not do their jobs correctly, perhaps arla should look at asurvey of these sorts of people to gain some realistic knowledge of what large companies out there, who should know better! are still NOT doing what they should and are offering a bad service which in turn gives those of us who are conscientious a bad name.

    Frustrated Nals agent who does work by the book and who cares about landlords and tenants getting a fair deal

    • 04 February 2009 14:55 PM
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    Don't forget all the extra VAT you can charge on those surveys. (insert image of Go'd Brown gleefully rubbing hands together). VAT is going up to 22.5% by the way. (that's nearly a quarter for you older readers)

    • 04 February 2009 10:55 AM
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    "...more commitment to ensuring each property they let is of appropriate physical quality. I see this area of selling surveying services to landlords as a big new business opportunity for agents.”...Is it April 1st?

    • 04 February 2009 10:27 AM
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