A new voluntary accreditation scheme relating to the UK's rental sector needs to be extended on a national scale, the Association of Residential Letting Agents has said.
Welcoming the London Rental Standard voluntary accreditation scheme, which was recently launched by London mayor Boris Johnson, ARLA said that the scheme needed to be implemented across the country.
The new standard provides landlords and letting agents with a mark of accreditation if they have met a series of commitments and completed a one-day course. The scheme is aimed to ensure that tenants receive better service, from improved repair and maintenance times and protected deposits to better property conditions and transparent fees.
David Cox, ARLA’s managing director designate, told OPP-Connect: “We have long campaigned for regulation of the private rented sector, and it is crucial we eliminate the small minority of unscrupulous landlords and agents who neglect their responsibilities and bring our industry into disrepute.
“While the LRS is an important starting point in London, private rented sector standards are a UK-wide issue, and we will continue our campaign for industry regulation at a national level.”
Boris Johnson said it was hoped that the new scheme would “improve the experience of everyone involved, from landlord to tenant, with a clear set of good practice rules”.
More than a quarter of London’s households are renting, recent research has revealed, with that number set to soar to almost 40 per cent over the coming decade. However, 85 per cent of landlords were found to be unaware of legislation that aims to protect tenants.