Mike Hedges AM welcomes news that there is significant support for tenants’ fees ban

Mike Hedges AM welcomes news that there is significant support for tenants’ fees ban

Mike said… ‘I have long called for the abolition of Fees charged to tenants in the private rented sector. I have dealt with several cases where the fees requested bear no relation to any work undertaken in connection with tenancy and where the fee seemed to be a money making opportunity for the agency. The fees requested are often a significant barrier to people on low incomes entering in to good quality accommodation, even though they can demonstrate they can pay the monthly rent.

I welcome the ministers commitment to legislating on this matter – it is time the Assembly used its power in this area to assist people in to good accommodation.’

More than half of consultation respondents support banning fees charged to tenants in the private rented sector, Housing and Regeneration Minister Rebecca Evans says. 

Last year, the Welsh Government consulted on proposals to change the way fees are charged by letting agents, landlords and third parties to tenants in the private rented sector, following concerns raised by former Cabinet Secretary for Communities Carl Sargeant.

More than half of those who responded to the consultation, including a significant number of landlords, agreed that unnecessary fees should be banned. 

The consultation found that there is a broad range in the level of fees that tenants are charged by agents – fees reported by tenants ranged between £50 and £1,700 just for entering into an agreement. 

Key consultation findings include:

• 56% of all respondents agreed with an outright ban on unnecessary fees
• When fees are charged, tenants say that, on average, they are charged £249.47 to begin a tenancy, £108 to renew a tenancy and £142 at the end of a tenancy
• 62% of tenants said that fees have affected their ability to move into a rented property, while 86% say that fees have affected their decision to use an agent
• 61% of landlords did not know what their tenants were charged by their agent.

Ends

Notes: 

The summary of consultation responses are available here: https://beta.gov.wales/fees-charged-tenants-private-rented-sector