The Citizens Advice charity is urging people to lobby for more controls over the private rental sector, letting agents and landlords, when new proposals are debated by MPs in October.
The charity - which claims that a quarter of the housing-related queries it receives concern the private rental sector - says the Bill, to be debated in the Commons when MPs return from their summer recess, is an opportunity to give greater protection to tenants.
In a discussion document already reported on Letting Agent Today, the government sets out plans to block rogue letting agents’ and landlords’ ability to operate.
If a letting agent or landlord conducts two or more housing offences - for example, not displaying fees in the case of an agent or illegal eviction in the case of a landlord - their names could go on a blacklist making it difficult or impossible for them to operate in the private rental sector.
CA is now advising its supporters to lobby the government as part of the discussion document’s consultation period - which closes later this month - to ensure measures are put in place to compensate tenants whose landlords “force them to live in dangerous properties” and to strengthen the regulatory powers of councils over private lets.
“We need you to support our campaign by commenting on the proposals set out in the government’s discussion document and backing our calls for an improved private rented sector. Time is tight” says CA’s campaigns officer, Sue Christoforou.
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