The London borough of Newham will launch the UK’s first rating scheme for letting agents, publicly naming rogue agents in an effort to protect its residents. A new system is being introduced by the borough, which has been plagued with allegations that some landlords are using illegal tactics and have failed to pay their rent on time. The list will inform potential tenants and landlords of all the information they might need when choosing a reputable letting agent and will provide data on whether agents have failed to return deposits, charged unjust fees or ignored complaints.
The London borough of Newham will launch the UK’s first rating scheme for letting agents, publicly naming rogue agents in an effort to protect its residents. The borough has already mandated a licensing scheme for every rental property and the new system will ask tenants to rate letting agents from zero to five stars, with the results published on the council’s website. The list will inform potential tenants and landlords of all the information they might need when choosing a reputable letting agent and will provide data on whether agents have failed to return deposits, charged unjust fees or ignored complaints.