Registration of Letting Agents

Agencies which provide letting and/or management services to landlords they enter into a contractual arrangement based on a negotiated level of service and cost. By virtue of the nature of the business in question this agreement involves the administration of valuable assets and the future relationship that client will be able to sustain with his or her tenants.

Equally, a prospective tenant enters into a relationship with a letting agent based on an acceptance that they will be treated fairly in accordance with the inherent duty of care present in all such relationships.

Agencies which provide letting and/or management services to landlords they enter into a contractual arrangement based on a negotiated level of service and cost. By virtue of the nature of the business in question this agreement involves the administration of valuable assets and the future relationship that client will be able to sustain with his or her tenants.

Equally, a prospective tenant enters into a relationship with a letting agent based on an acceptance that they will be treated fairly in accordance with the inherent duty of care present in all such relationships. Any failure to do so will almost certainly have very significant consequences for a tenant as a result of the importance of managing a healthy PRS tenancy.

UKALA believes that it is only right that landlords and tenants should be able to expect a high level of professionalism – as befitting a service of such importance.

The Association believes that this is best achieved by promoting regulation by competition, increasing consumer awareness and expectations and therefore driving future business towards those agents able to demonstrate a genuine commitment to professionalism.

It is UKALA’s belief that this will not be achieved as a result of requiring that all agencies register their business with a central public body.

UKALA provides targeted, accessible professional development resources, requires financial rigour, professional indemnity insurance, impartial arbitration and provides members with client money protection insurance to protect the interests of its consumers. Such professional standards are much more valuable consumer protection tools than an entry in a register.

Landlords and tenants should vote with their feet and only work with agents which are proactive and sign up to a recognized industry body.