Landlord launches petition for letting agent reform after year-long battle

Fed-up landlord Wilson Chowdhry has launched a petition on the UK Parliament website, urging the government to introduce stricter regulations for letting agents.

His petition calls for an independent regulator with enforcement powers, mandatory licensing, recognised qualifications and transparent fee structures to protect landlords and tenants.

The move follows Mr Chowdhry’s year-long battle against an agency which has been found guilty of serious malpractice by the Property Redress Scheme (PRS), which ordered the firm to pay him £3,450.

The PRS ruling includes £1,650 in compensation and a withheld £1,600 commission fee.

It also ruled that the agent provide receipts for two properties and correct a faulty Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) agreement for one property.

Agent caused losses

The decision came after Mr Chowdhry endured what he describes as prolonged deception and poor service which caused financial losses and mental distress.

Among the issues he had to deal with include the agent neglecting to provide terms of business or management contracts despite Mr Chowdhry’s repeated requests.

He also says the firm failed to supply signed tenancy agreements, inventories or vetting checks, and misrepresented council incentive schemes, possibly to unlawfully retain a £5,000 landlord incentive.

Mr Chowdhry also alleges that the agent took a 50% rent advance from a tenant without his approval.

Warning to all agents

Mr Chowdhry’s petition stems from his belief that the current system fails to protect landlords and tenants from rogue agents.

He told Property118: “This is a warning to all letting agents who think they can exploit landlords or tenants for personal gain.

“The system is not built to protect landlords from rogue agents.

“It feels like justice is reserved only for those with the stamina and resources to keep fighting. That’s wrong.”

Mr Chowdhry’s concerns extend beyond his own case, and he says at least four other landlords have suffered similar losses due to an agent’s misconduct.

He said: “What’s most disturbing is how many agencies have walked away from their responsibilities.”

Landlords and supporters can sign Mr Chowdhry’s petition, ‘Introduce increased regulation of letting agents’, on the government website.