Consultation starts on Welsh letting fees ban

The government in Wales has launched its formal consultation on a Welsh letting fees ban in preparation for legislation, with a deadline for agents and landlords to respond of 27th September. Once the consultation process finishes, it expects to bring forward a Fees Charged to Tenants Bill, most likely next year. Wales has already gone several steps further than other parts of the UK in reforming the private rental market following its launch of Rent Smart Wales, its compulsory licensing system for landlords and agents. In its consultation document the Welsh government criticises agents for not supplying tenants with a breakdown of the services they charge for and instead charging flat fees. But although this makes it easier for tenants to compare costs between different agencies, “It lacks transparency” the document says. Welsh letting fees ban Its move to ban fees has been influenced by housing charity Shelter Cymru, which last year released a report on the Welsh private rental market called “Letting go: why it’s time for Wales to ban letting agents’ fees”. In it the charity said fees charged to tenants ranged from £39.99 to £480 and that a third of tenants in Wales pay £200 or more…