Lettings accreditation scheme safeagent has urged the Government to ensure that membership of licensing schemes is enforced as part of any new legislation.

It comes after Labour MP Jas Athwal sacked the lettings agency that manages his rental flats.

Isobel Thomson, chief executive of safeagent, said: “This sorry tale brings us back, once again, to enforcement. If the MP’s properties were not registered with the local licensing scheme, why did the council not follow up?  Was the agent part of a Client Money Protection Scheme (CMP) and accredited by a robust organisation? 

“Any landlord engaging the services of a letting agent should check that they fully meet all the legal requirements, such as being part of a CMP scheme if they are holding clients’ money and also registered with a redress scheme.

“It is also a legal requirement to display the requisite logos both in the agent’s offices and on their website.”

With a beefed-up Renters Reform Bill in the pipeline, Thomson said the Government should ensure effective enforcement forms an integral part of any new legislation, adding: “Otherwise, the system will be as open to abuse as it currently appears to be and will not fulfil the purpose of licensing nor deliver any benefits for tenants.”