§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Minister for Trade if he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate, under the Estates Agents Act 1979, the conduct of certain agents, about whom the hon. Member for Paddington has written to him, in connection with the alleged harassment of tenants.
§ Dr. VaughanThe Estate Agents Act 1979 covers things done by any person in the course of estate agency as defined in the Act. That definition does not cover agreements where there is no saleable interest, for example landlord/tenant agreements. The Director General of Fair 645W Trading has therefore no power under the Act to investigate the conduct of estate agents dealing with such agreements.