Clive Betts

Tenant Fees Bill – MPs unanimously vote through second reading

Letting agents hoping for a miracle defeat for the Tenant Fees Bill last night in the Commons during its second reading were disappointed when it was passed unanimously by MPs following a three-hour debate. Although 123 MPs are landlords, only two pointed out any failings in the legislation that might have given letting agents hope. These were Labour’s Andrew Lewer and Conservative Alex Chalk, both of whom asked that not all agents should be tarred with the same ‘rogue’ brush and that the bill could prompt higher rents. “There are hard-working people in this sector and we shouldn’t punish the unscrupulous at the expense of the far more numerous hard-working ones,” said Lewer (pictured, right). Default fees But all of the dozen or more other speakers were in support of the bill’s aims, many on both sides of the political divide calling for it to be tightened up particularly in relation to ‘default fees’. “Rogue letting agents have for too many years been able to profit from unsecure tenancies,” said Dr Paul Williams. Default fees are one of the few fees agents will be able charge soon and will be permissible only when a tenant prompts work, for example if…