Citizens Advice has spoken out about soon-to-be-banned letting agent fees charged to tenants.

The organisation’s ‘A State of Disrepair’ report says that agency fees are contributing towards stifling tenants’ ambitions to become home owners.

Its survey of 2,000 tenants – carried out by YouGov – found that of households earning £50,000 or more, 69% paid fees to their agents with 9% paying more than £1,000.

Some 19% paid between £500 and £999 and 20% paid between £250 and £499.

Citizens Advice says it estimates that tenants in England spend in excess of £13 million on letting agent fees each month.

It also reiterates its backing of the letting agent fee ban – confirmed in last month’s Housing White Paper – which is likely to be introduced in 2018.

“Now that people are staying in the private rented sector for longer the government’s commitment to ban letting agents’ fees could help them to save thousands of pounds towards a deposit,” says Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice.

The organisation is now calling on the government to drive up the quality of private rented homes.

Its survey found that 51% of tenants with a household income of £50,000 or more have experienced damp or mould in their current property. 

Meanwhile, a fifth said they have had a rodent or other animal infestation. 

The report recommends introducing maximum timescales for landlords and letting agents to carry out repairs and banning those who repeatedly fail to do so from letting out properties in the future. 

“The government needs to look at how it can do more to help private tenants at the mercy of landlords and letting agents who are slow to carry out repairs, or rent out homes that fail to meet basic standards,” says Guy.

The ‘A State of Disrepair’ report can be viewed in full here.