News from Siân Berry: Vital letting fees ban must not be derailed

London Assembly Member, Sian Berry, responds to the launch of the Government’s consultation on banning letting fees to tenants in England.[1]

Sian Berry says:

It’s vitally important this ban goes ahead. We shouldn’t underestimate how hard letting agents will fight to maintain their ability to exploit private renters, but their scare stories won’t wash when Scotland already has these rules with no problems.

When I surveyed renters in London last year, they told me shocking stories of sky-high fees being demanded when they were at their most vulnerable.[2] More than a third said they had been hit by unexpected fees from agents, and this exploitation has to stop.

Last month I reported on how well councils are able to monitor and enforce current rules on transparency for letting fees and found that most were able to respond to only a small number of complaints received.[3] A simpler scheme where letting fees to renters are simply banned would help reduce the burden on councils and help London’s tenants too.

I am urging everyone in London who has experienced hardship from these unfair charges to respond to the Government and make sure the new rules come in as soon as possible.

The consultation launched today and the deadline for responses is 2 June 2017.