The tenant fees ban proposed by the government during Philip Hammond’s Autumn Statement recently will persuade more landlords to self-manage their properties, which in turn will place tenants in the hands of a largely unregulated part of the industry.

This was one of the main conclusions of this week’s meeting of minds at the latest NALS Fair Fees forum, which met in central London last Friday at an undisclosed venue, and whose work NALS says it is ‘pretty pleased with’.

It is preparing a comprehensive response to the looming government consultation on fees and the forum discussed a specially-commissioned report into the work of agents in securing tenants for a property, how the fees ban is working in Scotland for tenants, agents and landlords and how the ban might affect how the redress schemes operate.

The forum was also reminded by representative from the Department of Communities and Local Government that the ban was unlikely to be kicked into the long grass and remained the ‘political will’ of ministers. Primary legislation is expected this Autumn with a fees ban to come in during early 2018.

But industry representatives highlighted how a ban would lead to a poorer service to tenants and increased rents as landlords sought to recoup the costs of referencing and tenancy administration.

Also, everyone at the meeting agreed that a report into the lettings market and the fees it charged by agents within it should be undertaken before the government makes a decision on the shape of the ban.

The agents and organisations attending the forum included Belvoir, Chestertons, the Connells Group, Countrywide, Hamptons, Hunters, LSL, Northwood, Savills, Spicerhaart, Touchstone and Winkworth while industry membership organisations there include RICS and the three redress schemes.