CLG Committee to hear from local authorities and letting agents on Private Rented Sector inquiry and draft Tenant Fees Bill

The Communities and Local Government Committee is to hear from local authorities and letting agents as part of its inquiry in to the Private Rented Sector (PRS).

The Committee will also use the session to continue its pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposed ban on letting fees imposed on tenants.

The PRS inquiry is focusing on the role of councils in the provision and regulation of private rented accommodation while the Committee is examining the Government’s draft Tenant Fees Bill ahead of its passage through Parliament.

While in relation to the PRS inquiry, the meeting is likely to focus on the quality of accommodation in the private rented sector, the effectiveness of licensing schemes and regulations faced by letting agents, it is also likely that the meeting will consider the effectiveness of the enforcement mechanisms in the draft Bill and the impact of the draft Bill on letting agents

The PRS inquiry is examining barriers to intervention in the private rented sector, whether landlord licensing schemes are promoting higher quality accommodation and the effectiveness of complaint mechanism for tenants.

The draft Tenant Fees Bill was published on 1 November and would prohibit all payments to lettings agents and landlords (aside from rent, security deposits, holding deposits and tenant default fees), cap deposits and introduce new civil and criminal offences for breaching the ban.

Witnesses schedule: Monday 29 January, Thatcher Room

At 4pm:

• Councillor Tony Newman, Member of LGA Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board, Leader, London Borough of Croydon
• Sir Robin Wales, Mayor, London Borough of Newham
• Councillor Simon Blackburn, Blackpool Council

At 5pm:

• David Cox, Chief Executive, ARLA Propertymark
• Isobel Thomson, Chief Executive, National Approved Letting Scheme