News

Following the news that Government will move to ban letting agent fees, the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) Chief Executive, Isobel Thomson this message for NALS’ members:

Today’s likely announcement in the Autumn Statement of an upfront fees ban has taken some in the industry by surprise. On the face of it, it is an easy political win but one which directly affects your business.

Let me be absolutely clear. NALS does not believe this is the right way to go for agents, landlords or tenants and we will continue to communicate this on your behalf to decision-makers.

We have been signposting this direction of travel for some time and said in September that we believed the sector has been sleep-walking into this decision.

This is why we established the NALS Fair Fees Forum which we wrote to you about recently.

The Forum has only just issued its first communiqué that goes on to establish a Working Group precisely set up to look at alternatives to an outright ban. It will meet later this week.

We have already been asked to continue this Working Group by the relevant civil servants who have praised all those involved for, at last, taking seriously the possibility that Government may look at an outright ban.

Whatever is said today, NALS Fair Fees Forum will continue to bring together the overwhelming majority of industry stakeholders with key civil servants who advise government ministers and the Mayor of London.

NALS is committed to open dialogue and continuing the work that is underway as the consultation period opens. We all want a stable, functioning private-rented sector and we are determined that we will make your voice heard.