ARLA
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Latest property news
Compulsory electrical checks must not be introduced this year, says ARLA
The minister says she wants to raise the quality of all rented homes within the private rented sector but ARLA warns the checks must not be introduced this year.
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Features
Three conference keynotes: Brexit, bans and franchisees
Read Sheila Manchester's summary of the three keynote presentations made during the Negotiator Conference including from Sir Ivan Rogers.
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Latest property news
Rent reductions increasing as tenants negotiate harder, says ARLA
The number of private rented sector tenants negotiating rent reductions has jumped to the highest since records began, it has been revealed, driven by an increase in stock levels during the run up to the festive break. The Association of Residential Letting Agents, which conducted the research via canvassing firm Opinium, says 3.7% of tenants negotiated a rent reduction last month, up from 2% during September. This is the highest ratio recorded since ARLA began collecting rental supply and demand data in 2015. Landlord increases The number of landlords increasing rents has reduced, too. In August ARLA says 40% of its member agents reported landlords hiking rents, a figure which has now dropped to 24%. This appears to be driven by an increase in rental stock. ARLA says the average number of properties available per agent has increased year on year by 9% and stood at 198 properties last month. Demand is also not keeping up with supply. ARLA says that on average the number of tenants chasing these 198 properties is 71, up from 63 in September. But ARLA’s Chief Executive David Cox (left) says these rent reductions are likely to be seasonal and that rents will ‘creep back…
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Latest property news
Rental scams costing tenants £5.25 million a year, official fraud investigation reveals
A government-backed anti-fraud organisation reckons tenants are losing £5.25 million every year to rental scams.
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Latest property news
First MP to reply to ARLA’s tenant fees ban letter say industry is “perverse”
The mountain that the industry must climb to defeat the tenant fees ban has been revealed after a Labour MP replied to a letter sent to him by a local letting agent following ARLA’s recent call for action. ARLA last week asked agents to write to their local MPs, and Reading branch manager Khalil Iqbal obliged – only to receive a blunt rebuttal from Matt Rodda, his MP for Reading East and Shadow Minister for Local Transport. From his letter it’s clear that not only does ARLA have to persuade the Conservative government that the bill will damage local rental markets and employment, but also must change Labour thinking too. Khalil, who is a branch manager at Reading agency Adams Estates, received his letter on Saturday from Rodda, who in his reply dodged all the points made by Khalil about the damage the bill may wreak. Perverse Instead the MP says the industry is “perverse” because tenants are charged by agents for a service provided to landlords and that agents fees increased by 60% between 2010 and 2015, he claims. The MP also highlights in the letter how closely Conservative and Labour policy is aligned on housing. For example, Rodda…
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Latest property news
It’s war! ARLA urges agents to take tenant fees ban battle to MPs’ constituencies
After failing to persuade the government that the tenant fees ban will lead to a rise in rents, poorer quality properties and fewer jobs within the property industry, the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) has taken its war direct to MPs in their constituencies. This is somewhat of a U-turn compared to the organisation’s position earlier this month when David Cox, ARLA’s Chief Executive, (pictured, above) appeared to throw in the towel and told members following the Bill’s Introduction to parliament that they “must start preparing for when it comes into force”. The trade association, which says the fees ban is not the “black and white” issue portrayed by the government, has emailed all its members urging them to contact their local MPs ahead of the Tenant Fees Bill’s passage through parliament, which was announced earlier this month. Agents are being asked to both book face-to-face meetings at MPs’ surgeries and send letters. The ARLA tenant fees ban campaign includes a briefing paper for agents to use when they contact their local MP, and a toolkit that includes a letter ready to send to the politicians. As well as urging MPs to consider the impact on their local property…
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Latest property news
11 months to go! Client Money Protection legislation enters parliament
The government has laid down the new legislation in parliament that will make Client Money Protection mandatory for all agents by April next year.
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Latest property news
Landlords increasing rents to pay for extra regulatory costs
Read how ARLA says more landlords are increasing their rents to pay for deluge of new legislation being introduced to regulate and tax the sector.
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Latest property news
Letting agents today face new but “pointless” Banning Orders and Rogue Database system
The government’s Banning Orders and Rogue Database system for letting agents has gone live today despite the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) describing the initiative as “disappointing” and “pointless”. From now onwards, landlords or letting agents who are convicted of specific offences can be banned from letting or managing a property for at least 12 months via a Banning Order, and added to the Rogue Database for at least two years. The offences cover the most serious housing and criminal crimes. These include those involving fire and gas safety, Right to Rent, housing benefit fraud, ignoring council improvement notices, collusion in cannabis cultivation or drug dealing, poor HMO management, illegal evictions and violent or sexual offences against tenants. “I am committed to making sure people who are renting are living in safe and good quality properties. That’s why we’re cracking down on the small minority of landlords that are renting out unsafe and substandard accommodation,” says Minister for Housing and Homelessness Heather Wheeler. “Landlords should be in no doubt that they must provide decent homes or face the consequences.” First Tier Tribunal Once convicted, councils can apply to a First Tier Tribunal to have the landlord or agent involved banned…
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Latest property news
MPs recommend to tighten up draft Tenant Fees Bill including five-week deposits
Housing committee ignores industry on damage bill may do to housing affordability and letting agent viability, and recommends smaller deposits, tighter rules on other allowable fees and harsher policing.
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