Housing minister insists RoPA reforms ‘still in pipeline’
Lucy Frazer told MPs the Government is committed to improving professional standards, but couldn't say when reforms would be made - again.
The Government has confirmed that the RoPA reforms to regulate agents’ practice are still alive, but didn’t give a timetable.
Housing minister Lucy Frazer (main picture) told MPs the Government is still considering the recommendations from Lord Best’s working group more than three years after they were published.
“The Government is considering the recommendations in the final report on the regulation of property agents from Lord Best’s working group. We will continue to work with industry on improving best practice,” she said in answer to a question from Ipswich MP Tom Hunt.
The Regulation of Property Agents (RoPA) working group led by Lord Best issued its report in July 2019, and since then the Government has failed to formally respond. It wasn’t included in last year’s Queen’s Speech outlining the Government’s programme.
The Group’s remit was to advise the Government on a new regulatory approach to letting, managing and estate agents, and it produced 53 recommendations.
Protected from abuse
Frazer, who didn’t say when the Government would respond to the report, continued: “As part of a fair and just housing system, the Government is committed to making sure that homeowners and tenants are protected from abuse and poor service.
“This commitment includes raising professionalism and standards amongst property agents (letting, estate and managing agents), protecting consumers while defending the reputation of good agents from the actions of rogue operatives.
“We therefore welcome the ongoing work being undertaken by the industry itself to raise professionalism and standards across the sector, including on codes of practice for property agents,” she said.
Read the RoPA report in full.
