Tenant Fees Ban June 2019

 

Letting agents will soon be required to highlight which services they are providing as part of the rent when advertising properties. 

All adverts for rental properties will significantly change in the months to come as the affect of the Tenant Fees ban will be felt by all agents 

 

Property Associations across the country have confirmed that adverts will have to provide increased transparency about what services are included in the rent in light of the Tenant Fees Act which has prohibited lettings agents from charging letting fees which they previously did. 

 

One such enquiry that came to ARLA, one such Association confirmed “we’re having lots of questions being asked about chimney sweeping,” for example. 

 

“It may sound odd, but if a chimney needs to be swept once or twice a year then the advert would have to make it clear that the rent included that service because it can’t be charged for separately. 

 

There are likely to be many more examples of such costs that letting agents have previously charged, but which are no longer admissible. 

 

Contents insurance is one such example. Previously letting agents required tenants to take out contents insurance as a condition of being given the tenancy. However, this is now strictly prohibited. 

 

 

This piece of legislation is extremely complex and could result in Letting Agents being fined so it is really important you get the correct advice early on. Avery Walters are able to provide advice for either residential or commercial landlords. Our team of specialist solicitors is on hand to help you resolve your landlord and tenant issues. Get in touch with Avery Walters today to speak with one of our team. 

 

Andrew Parascandolo 

Managing Director and Chair of the Leeds Property Association.