To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the practice of letting agencies using fixed-cost tenant fees to cover the costs of conducting viewings, negotiating a tenancy, verifying references, undertaking right to rent checks and drawing up contracts; and if he will make a statement.
Answered on
1 November 2022
Under the Tenant Fees Act, landlords and letting agents are already not permitted to charge prospective tenants for viewings, negotiations, referencing, right to rent checks, or contract drafting. A refundable holding deposit may be requested to reserve a property whilst reference checks and preparation for a tenancy agreement are undertaken. This is capped at one week's rent. A landlord or agent should stop advertising a property after a holding deposit has been received. Landlords and agents are prohibited from holding multiple deposits.