RENT SMART WALES LICENCE FEES SLASHED FOR AGENTS.

March 23, 2016

Rent Smart Wales has revised the cost of a licence for letting and management agents following concerns from UKALA that the proposed fee would have a detrimental impact on standards and professionalism in the private rented sector.

UKALA raised concerns that the proposed fee of £3,728 for a 5 year licence was too expensive and that it could force many small-to-medium-sized agents to forfeit their membership of a trade body, which already assist in improving standards and professionalism within the sector.

UKALA advocated for a graduated licencing fee structure based on the size of the agent’s business, as well as reduced fees for agents who already belong to a trade body.

The new fees, which will take effect from the 25th April 2016, will mean that agents with between 100-500 properties will see a fee reduction of almost £1000.  The full set of fees can be viewed on the Rent Smart Wales website https://www.rentsmart.gov.wales/en/faqs/#15

Richard Price, Executive Director of UKALA, said:

“We felt that the initial proposed fee was too high for the majority of agents to absorb, and that there was a real danger that it would lead to a significant decline in membership of reputable bodies like UKALA and consequently standards.

“If the licence fee is too high then many agents would have to end their membership simply in order to comply with the law, which is completely against the spirit of this legislation.

“We’re delighted that Rent Smart Wales has been so receptive in listening to  our proposals for graduated licence fees – demonstrating that government and industry can work together effectively.. It means that most UKALA members and many other agents will see a significant reduction in cost of obtaining a license as a result of our efforts”.

Breaking News Post shared by: Sam Haidar, PR Manager, UKALA.

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

Discover Northern Ireland’s top emerging investment hotspots

Derry/ Londonderry and Fermanagh named Northern Ireland’s top emerging investment hotspots Northern Ireland’s emerging investment hotspots are delivering compelling opportunities for landlords in 2026, with new research from Belfast-based estate agency John Minnis revealing a shift in where investors are finding the strongest returns. Drawing on insights from the latest John Minnis Investment Guide, the…
Read More →
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

First-time buyers pay extra £307m in stamp duty since relief ended

New Rightmove analysis reveals that since the end of the temporary relief measure in April 2025, first-time buyers in England have paid an estimated £307 million extra in stamp duty, averaging £4,618 more per buyer: The total estimated first-time buyer stamp duty bill over the past year was £408 million, versus £101 million the previous year In April 2025 the first-time buyer stamp duty threshold was lowered from £425,000 to £300,000. Before the change 62% of homes for sale were stamp-duty free for first-time buyers and that has…
Read More →
Breaking News

Rental price and average salary tracker – March 2026

Rents Plateau, But UK Market Tells Regional Story Significant comparisons include across Scotland where average agreed rents rose to £1,123, representing a 4.95% increase month and month across the nation. Northern Ireland saw the second largest average monthly rents rise, bringing an increase of 3.99% to an average agreed price of £887 compared to £853…
Read More →
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 9/4/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Why Rightmove is making all the wrong moves   In a world reshaped by AI, incumbency is no longer protection. It is exposure. Thought Leadership By Andrew Stanton, CEO Proptech-PR Rightmove has long been the unassailable giant of UK property portals—a category-defining platform that, for years, operated…
Read More →
Breaking News

Six property firms expelled from redress scheme

Six property businesses have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman after failing to pay compensation awards. The expulsions followed a review by the scheme’s independent Compliance Committee, which agreed that each firm should be removed for breaching their membership obligations by not complying with Ombudsman decisions. The Property Ombudsman, which provides impartial dispute resolution for…
Read More →
Home and Living

Best garden renovations to increase property value this spring

With spring fast approaching and warmer weather finally in sight, now is the perfect time to step outside and give your garden the well-deserved TLC and refresh it needs after such a wet and dreary start to the year. Whether it’s refreshing planting beds, updating patio areas or rethinking your layout, investing time into your…
Read More →