§ Mr. BendallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider bringing letting agents within the scope of the Estate Agents Act 1979 so as to protect the public against loss of deposits and other malpractices and to ensure that letting agents are properly regulated.
§ Sir George YoungThe Accommodation Agencies Act 1953 already regulates the activities of letting agencies. This makes it an offence to take money for registering the name or requirements of someone seeking a tenancy of a dwelling, to charge for supplying addresses of dwellings to be let and to advertise a dwelling, without the owner's authority, as being available to let. We consulted on the value of the Act towards the end of last year and decided, in the light of responses received, to maintain it in its present form.
In addition, a number of trade associations, such as the Association of Residential Letting Agents already promote good practice throughout the industry by means of codes of practice and bonding schemes. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors is preparing a code of practice on the management of residential property.
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