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11:01 AM, 12th April 2023, About A year ago 31
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A controversial appearance by Labour MP Diane Abbott on ITV’s ‘Good Morning Britain’ led to claims that landlords are ‘charging tenants to view’ a property.
But when Ms Abbott was asked by Property118 for evidence to back up this claim, there has been no response.
The claim starts with co-presenter Richard Madeley asking Ms Abbott about landlords charging potential tenants to view a home.
Ms Abbott replied: “They are now charging just to look at a property, some of them are charging a relatively small amount, £30, but some of them are charging hundreds of pounds.”
Fellow presenter Kate Garraway highlighted that a journalist on the show had investigated and could find no evidence that landlords are charging potential tenants to view a property.
She added that the law now makes the paying of these fees illegal and asked Ms Abbott what evidence she had.
Ms Abbott said her ‘evidence’ was anecdotal and there was no evidence from tenant surveys.
However, she doubled down on the allegation and said, ‘a lot of estate agents’ are saying that tenants are being charged and ‘this is something that needs to be cracked down on’.
Ms Abbott continued: “One of the things a Labour government would do is to bring in a renters’ charter and one of the things that would say is in no circumstances can landlords charge just to view a property.”
Ms Garraway highlighted that the law already prevents this from happening, so Labour would not have to bring in a new law to deal with the issue.
Ms Abbott replied: “But it doesn’t seem to be biting, does it? Because you hear too much anecdotal evidence, certainly in London, of people charging to view.”
The only evidence that Property118 could find was one platform for agents offering to arrange viewings at £30 each – to ‘guarantee’ a viewing. The platform is no longer available.
And in 2018, a BBC investigation found that a London letting agent was charging £300 per viewing.
We could find nothing about agents or landlords who are charging potential tenants to view a property since the Tenant Fees Act came in.
However, a Which? investigation in February highlighted various scams online with fraudulent listings on SpareRoom – a flat-sharing site – highlighted that some tenants are being asked to pay to view a property which would be refunded if they turned up. SpareRoom said it responds quickly to these scam attempts.
David Oliver, the compliance manager at Propertymark, told us: “Agents charging fees to view private rented properties goes against the Tenant Fees Act 2019, so not only is it illegal but is highly immoral and something no agent should be practising.
“Members of the public should be aware that if they do know of an agent who is doing this, they should report them to the redress scheme they are registered to which legally has to be displayed on the agents’ website.
“They should also report this to the agent’s local authority as its trading standards department enforces the Tenant Fees Act legislation.”
Indeed, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s guidance on the Tenants Fees Act makes clear:
PROHIBITED PAYMENTS
What payments are not permitted under the ban?
VIEWING FEES
Can I ask a tenant to pay a fee to view a property?
No. You cannot charge for this as viewing a property is part of the process connected with granting a tenancy.
And since Property118 could find no evidence that landlords are charging potential tenants to view a property, we contacted tenant organisations about poor landlord and agent practices.
Both Generation Rent and Acorn, which represents tenants, did not reply to our requests for information.
We also contacted Diane Abbott’s office for comment about her claims on Good Morning Britain and proof – even if anecdotal – of landlords asking for payment to view a property. There has been no reply.
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Reluctant Landlord
13:55 PM, 14th April 2023, About A year ago
This woman is a joke full stop.
She is stating that estate agents are apparently charging this fee.
Well if they are then Trading Standards are there and so is the FS Ombudsman. I read this as nothing to do with Landlords.
All political spin regardless on a totally non evidence based view coming from a delusional woman. End of.
Raz
15:08 PM, 14th April 2023, About A year ago
Don't know if this counts as anecdotal, but towards the end of covid/lockdown my sister was asked for a "holding deposit" before even being allowed to view a property in Essex that she was interested in. Obviously I told her to walk away, but if she had viewed and not taken the property she could have lost the holding fee. Don't know if calling it a holding fee instead of a viewing fee gets around the no fees ban on a technicality, but scam fees are being charged - whatever name you want to give them.
Ian Narbeth
15:47 PM, 14th April 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by Raz at 14/04/2023 - 15:08Raz, under s2 Tenant Fees Act 2019:
(1) A letting agent must not require a relevant person to make a prohibited payment to the letting agent in connection with a tenancy of housing in England.
(2) A letting agent must not require a relevant person to make a prohibited payment to a third party in connection with a tenancy of housing in England.
There are similar provisions in s1 for landlords.
All payments are prohibited unless expressly permitted by virtue of Schedule 1.
Raz
7:54 AM, 15th April 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 14/04/2023 - 15:47
Technically though, holding fees are not a prohibited payment. While in this case most would agree it is unfair to ask for a holding fee before a prospective tenant has even viewed the property, there is nothing to say WHEN a holding fee can (or cannot) be demanded.
Blodwyn
9:35 AM, 15th April 2023, About A year ago
DA is a Troubled Lady:
1. buddy buddy with Oh Jeremy Corbyn.
2. has (allegedly) violent son who she (allegedly) sent to private school as 'it was the best for him' - but you can't do the same???
3. was TV buddy with one Portillo of railway fame and right wing Tory
4. still bb with Oh Jeremy Corbyn..
Oh, dearie me!
philip allen
17:15 PM, 15th April 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by Smartermind at 13/04/2023 - 09:39
So at last we know the name of the person hiding behind the pseudonym of 'Smartermind', it's JEREMY!
Blodwyn
20:41 PM, 15th April 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by philip allen at 15/04/2023 - 17:15
Shurely not 'Oh, Jeremy'????
As our late Majesty might have said, "Recollections may vary"??
Ian Narbeth
22:47 PM, 16th April 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by Raz at 15/04/2023 - 07:54
A fee to view is not a holding fee. A holding fee is when the landlord and tenant have agreed in principle to go ahead. The landlord may then take up references.
I think you would get short shrift trying to argue that it was a holding fee in the circumstances described and before the tenant has agreed to take the property.
A tenant might agree to take a property sight unseen and then pay a holding fee but that is not the case here.
Landlord Phil
12:46 PM, 18th April 2023, About A year ago
I love it when Ms Abbot opens her mouth. It always brings a smile to my face. I say more airtime needs to be given to her, just so we can see what she'll say next. Maybe a regular spot on Mock The Week would be fun to see. Surely nobody actually takes her comments as being based in fact, do they?
NewYorkie
13:04 PM, 18th April 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by Landlord Phil at 18/04/2023 - 12:46
If you watch her, you will notice when she's asked a question, she answers slowly, as if her words carry weight, and in the belief she is right, when all she is doing is talk nonsense and look dim. Other times, when presented with some facts, she regurgitates them as her own, with some embellishment for [comedic] effect. Clearly, this is the secret of her success... in Hackney. Elsewhere, she's an embarrassment.