Campaigning charity Shelter is accusing some letting agents of “cutting corners” and has produced a provocative and satirical video showing a fake agent.

In a push before tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech – in which it is widely expected the government will announce a timetable for rental reform – the charity has released a video produced by a ‘creative agency’. 

The video shows the fake Only Choice Lettings in which an agent, played by comedian Rory Marshall, relentlessly tries to let properties to prospective tenants. 

At first glance, the listings look like a good deal but as the agent shares more detail the customers feign shock at what they see and hear. 

In a statement launching the video, Shelter’s chief executive Polly Neate says: “Landlords and letting agents have got away with cutting corners for far too long because renters are powerless to challenge them. Tenants are sick of paying through the nose for terrible rentals because they have no other choice.

“Every day our frontline services hear from renters stuck living in nightmare situations, too scared to complain for fear they’ll be kicked out. No-one should be stuck living in mouldy homes that make them ill or have to put up with landlords who turn up unannounced.

“Private renting is broken and the only way to fix it is by strengthening tenants’ rights so they can stand up to bad landlords and challenge poor conditions. The government must keep its promise by introducing a Renters’ Reform Bill this year that will scrap ‘no fault’ evictions and bring in a national landlord register. It’s the only way to transform private renting for good.”

You can see the video below.