ARLA campaigning for balanced legislative solution over letting agent fees.

The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) has announced that it is reiterating its call to Government to ban upfront letting agent fees at the start of a tenancy and instead spread the cost across the first six months of a rental agreement.

ARLA opposes a full ban on fees but calls for them to be spread over first six months of tenancy, new research released by ARLA, alongside a new policy paper, reveals that just more than 40% letting agents expect that a full ban would result in reduced staff numbers in the medium to long term, while just more than 60% of agents think that a full ban will cause the quality of rental properties to decline.

David Cox, Managing Director, Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) said: “When the Chancellor announced a full ban on letting agent fees in the Autumn Statement, we called the measure draconian and a crowd-pleaser. We stand by that. Nonetheless, we believe that ARLA’s proposal to spread the cost of the fees across the first six months of the tenancy will guard against the numerous unintended consequences of a full ban while also finding a solution that works best for the consumer.

“Over the coming weeks and months, ARLA will be campaigning for a balanced legislative solution. Our research supports our previous calls that a full ban on letting agent fees will have a profoundly negative impact on the rental market, and do little to help cash-poor renters save enough to get on the housing ladder.”

Read the announcement from ARLA in full click here

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove’s Most Searched Locations in 2025

Rightmove reveals some of the trends which defined the 2025 property market, from the most viewed homes to the most searched for locations UK’s top property hotspots: London, Manchester, and Glasgow are the most searched for locations in 2025 Capital crowns: Wimbledon, Fulham, and Chiswick are the most searched-for London spots for buyers, while Canary…
Read More
affordable houses glasgow
Breaking News

Consistent support for apprenticeships helps construction

The Government has announced a £725 million package of reforms to the apprenticeship system, including £140m for a Mayoral pilot programme. Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “The consistent messaging from politicians that apprenticeships should be valued as highly as degrees is fantastic and will be of great benefit…
Read More
Christmas Decorations - Good or Bad for Selling
Estate Agent Talk

6 tips for a stress-free Christmas move

With an average of 87,000 home sales taking place during the month of December, Property DriveBuy has compiled practical advice for those due to complete this festive season, a time already known for being one of the busiest and most emotionally charged periods of the year. Despite this bringing the potential for a more stressful…
Read More
new build homes colchester essex
Estate Agent Talk

Why 2026 could be the year the market turns

How policy, land and confidence will shape the recovery By Tim Foreman, Managing Director of Land and New Homes, LRG In property sales there are people who need to move and people who want to move. In the last few years, only those who have had to move have been active. Once conditions improve, those…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Why Dumpster Rentals Simplify DIY Kitchen Demolition Projects

Taking on a DIY kitchen demolition project can be both exciting and overwhelming. Whether you’re updating your kitchen’s layout, replacing old cabinets, or knocking down walls, the demolition phase generates a significant amount of debris—everything from broken tiles and drywall to old cabinets and countertops. Managing this waste efficiently is crucial to keeping your project…
Read More
Breaking News

Zoopla’s 2025 Year in Property: Rural dreams, fastest moving markets and an optimistic end to the year

It’s been a popular year for rural living, with a three-bed detached home in South-West Wales taking the top spot for the most viewed property. The average time to sell in 2025 was 38 days, up from 35 days in 2024. Three-bed terraced properties were the most popular property type. Falkirk in Scotland remains the…
Read More