Committee to hear evidence from industry, redress schemes and enforcers on the regulation of property agents
The Industry and Regulators Committee will continue its short inquiry into the regulation of property agents by hearing from a panel of industry bodies. The Committee will question the industry on its role in the current approach to the regulation of sales, letting and managing agents in the property sector. The Committee will examine whether industry feels there should be a new regulator of property agents and consider what effect regulation could have on smaller agents and new entrants. The inquiry will discuss whether planned legislation and other housing policy changes address concerns around the regulation of property agents, and what a potential new regulator could look like.
In its second panel, the Committee will hear from consumer advisors, redress schemes and enforcement agencies, considering how redress and enforcement currently operate for property agents. The Committee will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the current approach and consider what benefits would be provided by the introduction of a new regulator. The session will include consideration of how a new regulator would co-operate with local Trading Standards officers and redress schemes.
Meeting details
Possible questions include:
- Should a new regulator of property agents be introduced? Would a new regulator be able to deal with the challenges faced by renters and leaseholders when dealing with property agents?
- If a new regulator was to be established, what should its main objectives be? Are there particular measures or indicators that a new regulator should try and meet?
- How do existing redress and enforcement mechanisms operate in relation to property agents?
- Does the current approach to regulating letting agents meet the challenges of the sector?