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TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Tenant Fees Bill reaches the committee stage in the House of Lords today

Tenant Fees Bill that will ban most charges set by landlords and letting agents to tenants in England will continue its journey through the House of Lords today.

The Bill, introduced into Parliament in May of this year, is now at an advanced stage in the upper chamber, and will reach the committee stage in the House of Lords this afternoon.

The Bill will be scrutinised at the Lords grand committee, from 3.30pm today, as part of the process of introducing a ban on letting fees and the majority of other upfront fees payable by tenants to rent a property in England.

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The proposed new law will also lead to a cap on the amount of refundable security deposit a tenant would be required to pay to the value of six weeks’ rent and cap the amount of holding deposit a tenant could be required to put down to secure a property to the value of one week’s rent.

The Tenants’ Fees Bill had its Second Reading in the House of Lords on October 10.

The government firmly believes that the Bill will make renting properties in England fairer and more affordable for tenants by reducing the costs at the outset of a tenancy, at the same time as improving transparency and competition in the private rental market.

The Bill would place a duty on trading standards authorities and district councils to impose new penalties on any landlord or letting agent found to be in contravention of them. These include a fine of £5,000 for a first breach, which would typically be viewed as a civil offence.

A further breach within five years, however, would be viewed as a criminal offence, and subject to an unlimited fine and a banning order offence under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.

PropTech company Goodlord has raised concerns that the abolition of fees will result in rising rent levels, particularly in the poorest areas of the country.

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.

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    I already advertise no fees and get loads of business from that

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    God bring it on , every oppertuity to push those rents up lol

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    Not a problem, will just be added onto the rent, tenants will be worse off in the long run.

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    You all seem to add everything on to the rent?
    I unfortunately am unable to do so as affordability is key in my area and even a minuscule rise in rent often results in the tenant giving notice to end the tenancy
    Good luck to you if you can though, I just wish that I was in your position.

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    I dont get what all the stress is about? What costs are you all so worried about that you want to hike up the rents? £25 for credit check, AST template from NLA and an inventory cost. As both a landlord and tenant I welcome this fee ban. Nothing worse that being charged hundreds of pounds for an 'admin fee' when you know its just a quick money grab.

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