Lobbying works - ARLA wins 11-week delay in Welsh deposits change

Lobbying government can work, at least in some circumstances, as the Association of Residential Lettings Agents has seen in Wales. 

Letting agents in the Principality now have an extra 11 weeks to implement how they operate holding deposits after lobbying of the Welsh Government housing minister by ARLA.

Housing minister Julie James originally wanted a deadline of this coming Friday, which ARLA insisted was almost impossible to meet as it would have amounted to only 19 days’ notice - insufficient for IT systems, amongst other procedures, to be amended. 

Instead, agents in Wales now have until February 28.

“The minister fully appreciated our points and stated unequivocally that she wanted to work with professional agents and had no intention of putting our members in the difficult position of not having enough time to properly prepare for new laws before they are implemented” says ARLA’s Welsh board member Angela Davey.

The Renting Homes (Fees, etc) (Wales) Act 2019 requires agents to provide tenants accompanied by substantial information about the holding deposit before it can be collected.

“Last month ARLA Propertymark members were provided with a fact sheet and an editable template form in order to help you comply,” says ARLA chief executive David Cox. 

“We will be amending these to reflect today’s announcements and will re-issue updated versions shortly” he adds.