ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENTIAL LETTING AGENTS LICENSING SCHEME

Early day motion 1413, tabled 5 May 2009 by James Plaskitt (Labour). Signed by 45 members.

That this House notes with concern that the private lettings sector is currently unlicensed, a situation which poses risks to both landlords and tenants; further notes that without rules and standards, many people could be putting their money in the hands of people who are not members of a professional body, not obliged to maintain separate client accounts with rent money and tenants' deposits as well as other clients' funds, do not offer consumer redress, are unlikely to have professional indemnity insurance, are not professionally qualified, or are not members of a tenancy deposit scheme; believes the licensing of letting agents is necessary to eliminate unprofessional, unqualified and unethical agents from the rental market, and to protect the consumer from unscrupulous letting agents; believes that the Association of Residential Letting Agents licensing scheme will provide a model that will drive up standards and can inform the Government's thinking on the licensing of letting agents; and urges the Government to consider making the licensing of letting agents mandatory.

Signatures by party: Labour 25, Liberal Democrat 13, Conservative 4, DUP 1, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.