The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks is calling on landlords as well as letting agents to respond to the government's outstanding consultation on compulsory Client Money Protection (CMP).
With letting agents holding up to £2.7bn in deposits, rent payments and money for repairs at any one time, the government is concerned that a significant amount of this money is not protected.
The government has officially launched a review into whether private landlord and tenants’ money is properly protected from letting agents committing fraud or declaring bankruptcy.
The government has established a working group with colleagues from the House of Lords, led by Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Palmer of Childs Hill and Labour’s Baroness Hayter, to look at how CMP is currently operating and whether CMP schemes should be made mandatory.
Currently the schemes, which would hold such cash independently, are voluntary and the government estimates only 60-80% of letting agents use them.
Members of the public, including landlords, are now being invited to submit their views and evidence on whether and how this should be done.
A number of influential industry bodies have already shown their support for the government's review of mandatory CMP, including ARLA, NALS and the RLA, and now the AIIC is the latest to pledge its backing.
The organisation’s chair, Patricia Barber, said: “The majority of letting agents are trustworthy and reliable but that doesn't mean that they don't need to offer CMP.
"As average rents and deposits continue to rise, it's only fair that landlords and tenants are provided with the peace of mind that their money is protected."
You can respond to the review by clicking here or by sending an email to CMP@communities.gsi.gov.uk
Want to comment on this story? If so...if any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on any basis, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.
.jpeg)
.png)
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment (please use the comment box below)
Please login to comment