A local Trading Standards team is clamping down on rogue letting agents.
Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service has launched a new campaign to help prevent renters in the region being caught out by fees that have now been banned.
It’s telling renters that fees can only be charged by agents for rent itself; a refundable tenancy deposit; a refundable holding deposit of no more than one week’s rent; a reasonable payment in the event of the tenant’s default (such as a lost key or a failure to pay rent on time); payments to change the tenancy (capped at £50 or the reasonable costs of the agent if they are higher); payments on termination of a tenancy; and payments relating to council tax, utilities, TV licence and bills such as telephone, internet, cable TV and satellite TV.
Ben Newell, Team Manager at Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards, says: “Lots of people rent homes in the South West, so it’s really important to be aware of your rights as a tenant and how these changes in the law might affect you. Renting can be expensive as it is, so you don’t want to get caught out by any additional, and potentially high, fees that are no longer allowed.
“There’s lots of useful information on our website about what you can and can’t be charged for, so I’d encourage anyone who is renting or thinking about renting to find out more before they sign on the dotted line.”
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Well, I suppose it gives them something to do, but are there really that many "rogue" agents in that area or are they just trying to justify their existence?
Why don't they clamp down on rogue tenants
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