New Welsh Legislation Could Lead To UK Rental Property Shake-Up, Says Expert

CREWE, U.K. - July 29, 2014 - PRLog -- New legislation currently going through the Welsh Assembly could eventually lead to a UK-wide shake-up of housing law affecting the private rental sector as well as agents and landlords, according to Crewe-based Lettings and Management expert Sarah Faulkner.

The Housing (Wales) Bill 2014 aims to introduce the compulsory registration and the licensing of letting agents and landlords to improve the quality of the services they provide to the growing number of private sector tenants.

The Welsh bill proposes a two stage process involving registration and licensing. Both letting agents and landlords will need  to complete  accredited training programmes and will also be required to become members of recognised professional organisations like the Association of Regional Lettings Agents (ARLA) and the Residential Landlords Association.

Sarah Faulkner, a Letting Agent with 25 years experience in the Cheshire and North Staffs private rented sector said: “This proposed legislation is just what the Lettings industry has been looking for – a means of ensuring we have honest and trustworthy agents wanting to provide a transparent service to both landlords and tenants.

“If this new legislation is given the go-ahead in Wales, I would not be surprised if similar moves are made to bring its potential benefits to the rest of the UK. Legislation like this will stop inexperienced and untrained individuals from setting up Letting Agency businesses," she added speaking from her Crewe office.

“Untrained and unregulated agents damage the professionalism of the industry as a whole. This new initiative also provides a means of ensuring that both landlords and tenants get a professional level of service. If the agent isn’t performing correctly, then the landlord and the tenant has the right to an investigation through an independent redress scheme which could result in the agent’s licence being removed.

“This new legislation is great news all around. It also means that all letting agents will be competing on a level playing field with no illegal practices.”

Sarah said the UK Government had also started to look at proposed changes to legislation affecting the private sector, having presented draft proposals to parliament in June.

“Now watch this space,” she added.

For further information about Sarah Faulkner Lettings & Management click onto: www.sarahfaulkner.co.uk

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