This week Peter wrote to Hove & Portslade MP, Mike Weatherley, to ask that he supports the Labour Party amendment to the Consumer Rights Bill banning letting agent fees.
Rental problems are a huge problem for our city – you yourself probably have a story of being ripped off. So Labour has three key reforms to the private rented sector.
1. Ban letting agents’ fees for tenants: Letting agents would be banned from charging fees which can reach up to £500 to tenants. This will save people entering into a new tenancy an average of £350.
2. Introduce long-term three-year tenancies: Tenancies would start with a six-month probation period at the end of which the landlord would be able to terminate the contract if tenant failed the probation. After the six months, the tenancy would automatically run for a further two and a half years.
Tenants would be able to terminate contracts after the first six months with one month notice as they can now. Landlords would be able to terminate contracts with two months’ notice if they can have good reason.
3. Predictable rents: Landlords and tenants will set initial rents based on market value and conduct a rent review no more frequently than once a year. Any increase will be based on a benchmark, such as average market rents or inflation, and rents would not be allowed to rise above this.