ARLA has welcomed the recommendations contained in the Carsberg Review of Residential Property and the inclusion of much of the Association’s pioneering work for the self- regulation of the Private Rented Sector. This includes training, qualifications and client money protection.

However, the Association is concerned that self-regulation and the proposals for the future of the rental market and urgently needed further investment through Buy to Let may be overshadowed by the public’s greater interest in the home sales process and pricing. To overcome this, it expects to be fully included in all industry discussions over the future of any form of regulation in the residential property market.

Compliance for member letting agents of ARLA has long included training and qualifications. From the outset, ARLA qualifications were welcomed by staff throughout the lettings industry as well as their client landlords and the tenants. ARLA also requires agents to be members of the client’s money protection scheme for tenants’ deposits and landlords’ rents and transparency in terms and conditions. Many of these conditions of membership have been in place for nearly two decades.

“ARLA has trained over 10,000 qualified staff from among its member firms and it established the blueprint for standards in the lettings industry many years ago. Many of these initiatives have proved to be applicable throughout all areas of the residential housing market,” Ian Potter, ARLA’s Head of Operations pointed out. “It is gratifying that so many of our existing compliance requirements and standards and our more recent proposals to move forward with self-regulation are evident in the Carsberg Review.”

Currently, ARLA is calling for the licensing of all letting agents and for them to be members of independent redress schemes to protect the consumer. The Association has been vocal in its disappointment that compulsory independent redress for letting agents was not included in the legislation to enforce this for estate agents.

It is generally expected that the Private Rented Sector will grow from some 12% of all housing to 15% over the next ten years. This will add an average 30,000 tenancies a year to the sector.

“The Private Rented Sector is growing and with the Carsberg Review also calling for independent redress and the licensing of all letting agents, hopefully Government will now act to help us with framework legislation. We need to be rid of the cowboy agents who will try to take advantage of this growth. Light touch regulation that includes these recommendations is the way forward,” commented Ian Potter.

ARLA co-sponsored the Carsberg Review with the NAEA and RICS.

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