Our story earlier this week which highlighted a BBC investigation into rogue lettings agents raised a number of issues.
A number of readers rightly pointed out these alleged offences are being committed not by real letting agents but by con artists.
Nonetheless, the industry itself is tarnished by the actions of such shady operators, irrespective of whether these people are legitimate or not.
If the public who are falling victim to their scams think they are letting agents then it is the profession which is affected.
So what can be done about this problem
One answer is tougher regulation but at what level is subject to debate.
In addition, those perpetrating these scams do not operate in a world which is affected by regulation or licensing, they are con artists masquerading as agents for just long enough to accumulate sufficient cash before they vanish and start again somewhere else.
As such more regulation is unlikely to stop them - and may serve only to punish legitimate operators with added expense and bureaucracy.
Action does need to be taken though. Is it time for the Government to take a more robust line or does the solution lie elsewhere
Comments
Regulation is always the answer, especially in an industry such as property letting. It was about time action is taken, but it really must not add weight to legitimate operators. It must only aim at the "shady agents".
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As those detailed in the news weren't agents, then regulation wont have an impact, The key is consumer awareness which is what regulatoirs, and deposit schemes need to address in the way SAFEagent have tried hard to do.
Oh please note the "tougher regulation" stance! We've heard that before and nobody takes a blind bit of notice. Even if there were to be tougher regulations do you think that there will be enough officials to 'police' it and enforce them through the courts - No! Only the most serious cases come the the fore.
e.g. How many agents have been prosecuted for failing to advise a tenant of the landlord's name & address upon a written request from the tenant Answer - probably near to zero.
Maybe the BBC should be better educated before they accept stories spoon fed to them by Shelter.
Maybe the public should be better educated to be careful who they hand money over to.
I would have thought con artists posing as letting agents would be covered by fraud which is a criminal offence.
However the police told the people involved that it was a civil manner so something doesn't add up.
Personally I think it's just Shelter causing trouble in the hope that everyone will suggest that the answer is more regulation of letting agents (as is the case here).