Tenant fee ban not likely until after Spring 2019

Despite all suggestions pointing to the idea that the controversial new legislation would be introduced this year, an announcement by the National Approved Letting Scheme yesterday would suggest otherwise.

This follows an announcement by the Department for Communities and Local Governments – which has recently been rebranded as the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government - in late December that the team were not expecting implementation until Spring 2019 ‘at the earliest’

This may come as a surprise for many landlords and letting agents, many of whom expected the legislation to be kicked off at some stage throughout 2018, following Philip Hammond’s impassioned speech in the November 2016 Autumn Statement where he stated that the ban would be introduced ‘as soon as possible.’

The draft bill was released in November for public view, and the Secretary of State’s official scope declares that it aims to deliver a ‘fairer, more competitive and more affordable lettings market where tenants have greater clarity and control over what they will pay and where the landlord is the primary customer of the letting agent'.

It is currently undergoing the inquiry stage of the process, but hasn’t yet been presented to parliament.

The newly elected Housing minister Dominic Raab previously voted against the bill, however with his predecessor only lasting seven months in the role, it is yet to be seen whether he will see the bill actually come to fruition…