22^nd Feb 2019

A Labour politician has stated it is highly likely that “unscrupulous” letting agents will be out to make as much money as possible from tenants, as they will be increasing their usual fees and charges up till June 1st when the tenant fees ban comes into force.

It was announced earlier this month that the Royal Assent was given to the Tenants Fees Bill which will become law on June 1st.

Tom Copley, Labour’s London Assembly housing spokesperson and historically heavily critical of agents - states that rogues will no doubt force up tenant charges whilst they can.

“Whilst it is very welcome that with this new Act of Parliament, we will see protections for tenants from these fees and a cap on deposits at five weeks’ rent, there is still a four-month waiting period for the new laws to come in force.

“By implication, we are now in danger of unscrupulous agents and landlords using this period of delay to charge even higher fees than usual. The government has already dragged their feet on this, despite the Chancellor promising in his Autumn Statement back in 2016 that letting fees will be banned as soon as possible.”

The politician claims that private renting tenants in the capital have always had to face “exorbitant letting fees and deposits with excessive rents adding insult to injury.”

Copley's leader the London mayor Sadiq Khan is trying to force through powers to cap rents in the capital, in spite of the failure of such measures in the past.



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