The consultation period for the proposed ban on letting agents’ fees in England should either be extended or suspended until after the general election, it has been suggested.
David Cox, chief executive of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) has written to Communities Secretary Sajid Javid to ask for the process to be halted on the grounds that the issues are likely to a political issue in the coming weeks.
He explained that a key part of this consultation process, as set out by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) was to engage with the lettings sector and host a number of workshops throughout the country to discuss the implementation of the fee ban and proposals in the consultation.
‘This was most welcome as it would have allowed agents to gain clarity from officials on some of the points raised in the document and share their views on the proposals. However, as it is likely the fee ban will become a manifesto pledge in the coming weeks and therefore a political issue, this work cannot properly take place during purdah when civil servants will need to take extra care to remain impartial and objective,’ the letter says.
‘General election guidance also makes clear that statements which refer to future intentions of the Government should not be handled by a department. Therefore, ARLA Propertymark asks that the Government either extends the consultation for a further period beyond the election, or suspend it until a new Government is in place,’ it continues.
‘Either way, we request that the consultation does not close until the now cancelled workshops have taken place as the department originally committed to do as part of the consultation process,’ it adds.
