Agents Probed Over Tenant Fee Ban

Reports suggest that councils in Stoke on Trent, Leicester and the London boroughs of Camden, Westminster, Tower Hamlets and Hammersmith and Fulham have all opened probes against agents charging letting fees.

The National Trade Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team protects consumers and businesses by enforcing the Estate Agents Act (1979) and the Tenant Fees Act 2019 and is reportedly aware of 18 cases.

Agencies who breach the fees ban have committed a civil offence which carries a penalty of up to £5,000.

A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council told the I newspaper enforcement isn't always easy. "The nature of the legislation means that proving a breach has occurred is a lengthy and involved process."

"To date we have served three notices of intent for breaches relating to taking excessive deposits, taking multiple deposits for the same property and failing to return a deposit within an acceptable time frame."

Trading Standards has raised concerns that despite the new legislation, a power imbalance remains between tenants, landlords and letting agencies.