0:01 AM, 18th August 2025, About 6 months ago 3
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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.
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.
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.
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Katy Ann
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Member Since November 2020 - Comments: 36
16:56 PM, 18th August 2025, About 6 months ago
I’ll be signing this petition. We’ve been successfully self-managing for the last decade but sadly due to personal circumstances are now contemplating appointing a managing agent. I’ve been quite horrified by the lax drafting of their engagement contract. Obviously it’s a generic template they’re using, but some of the proposed terms would leave us quite exposed and I’ve had several rounds of emails trying to get them to re-word for clarity about obligations and responsibilities.
Disgrunteld Landlady
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Member Since July 2024 - Comments: 99
10:35 AM, 21st August 2025, About 6 months ago
Good to see somone going after Rogue Agents & winning.. i had no such luck with the Rogue Agents I’ve dealt with… be good to know who the Agent is.
alan b
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Member Since April 2023 - Comments: 2
11:37 AM, 25th August 2025, About 6 months ago
I’ve had had numerous problems with different letting agents over the years costing me time and money. The Property Ombudsman took ages to consider my formal complaint and proved to be clueless regarding basics and blatantly biased towards their paying members (ie the letting agents). Effective oversight by Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was platitudes (ie non-existent). Best of luck with your petition.