As the industry awaits the delivery of today’s Spring Budget, the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) has called on the government to ‘end the confusion and uncertainty’ in the rental market.

The organisation has put forward a number of suggestions which it believes will help the government to provide a Private Rented Sector (PRS) that ‘functions properly for all

NALS believes that all services provided to tenants should be paid for by tenants and not the landlord. 

It says the proposed ban on letting agent fees charged to tenants will lead to a number of ‘inevitable consequences’ for consumers.

These include a reduction in services to tenants, more landlords self-managing leading to a lowering of standards, rogue agents continuing to charge fees and more closures of small letting agencies.

NALS reiterates its call for a Competition and Markets Authority review into lettings fees as well as its belief that all agents should be regulated.

It is also urging the government to provide more money to local authorities – and particularly Trading Standards – in order to fund effective enforcement and policing of the PRS.

“Increased legislation is meaningless if there are not sufficient means to check it is operating correctly,” reads NALS’ statement.

The organisation concedes that Build to Rent will ‘positively contribute’ towards the supply of rental property but that the government must recognise that the role of the private landlords is and will remain ‘hugely important’ in providing housing for all.

“Simply, we want to make the Private Rented Sector a better, fairer place for all. While the recent government focus on the PRS and its importance is welcome, there has been no real action,” says Isobel Thomson, NALS chief executive. 

“We believe there are some immediate key areas, which must be addressed if we are truly to help improve the sector. Industry is waiting, it’s time for government to act now.”