HC Deb 02 April 1980 vol 982 c288W
Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to seek powers to limit the size of charges made to tenants by accommodation agencies.

Mr. Stanley

No.

Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to amend the Accommodation Agencies Act 1953 so as to prevent such agencies charging fees to potential tenants, particularly amongst lower income groups.

Mr. Stanley

Under the provisions of the Act it is an offence for any person to demand payment for registering—or undertaking to register—the requirements of any person seeking a tenancy, to demand payment for supplying addresses of houses or flats to let, or to issue any advertisement or list describing a house as being to let without the authority of the owner or his agent.

I have no plans to amend the Act.