AN MP has called for Parliament to draft a new law which will protect private renters from expensive letting agent fees.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle, MP for Brighton Kemptown, spoke in Parliament last month saying a large number of estate agents use “dirty tactics” to charge more fees from those who rent properties.  He said the Tenant Fees Bill should be revised to put a cap on deposits and letting fees.  He said in Parliament: “We’ve heard a lot of talk about it being a few agents, but I have been told it’s a large number of agents.  “I would go so far as to say the majority of agents do these dirty tactics and that’s why this bill is needed.

“It’s a systematic failure of the system.”

He told The Argus: “There are agent fees that cost £500 and it’s out of control.  “I have a lodger in my house but I didn’t charge for fees when we renewed our contract.

“An audit of the private rented sector shows exactly how out of control the fees are.  “In Brighton, some agents’ fees start at £500 just for a holding fee which is currently non-refundable.  “If someone decides not to go for the property, they lose the money.”

The issue is not just in Sussex, as has been pointed out by Lewes Conservative MP Maria Caulfield.  She said renters are struggling as they need to fork out between £175 to £900 in letting fees.

Quoting from theyworkforyou.com, she said: “My local Citizens Advice Bureau in Lewes found that on average tenants are paying, for eight weeks’ deposit, nearly £4,000 in advance.”

Mr Russell-Moyle’s quotes in Parliament were tweeted on the Co-operative Party account.  This prompted a debate with Brighton and Hove Estate Agents Association (BHEAA) who demanded the MP to either show evidence of his research or apologise.

Tina Templeman, president of BHEAA, said: “We saw Mr Russell-Moyle’s comments on Twitter and we believe it is unfair to label all landlords and estate agents as immoral and using ‘dirty tactics’.

“We, as an association, do not condone estate agents using underhand tactics.  “There is a stigma attached to agents and it’s not fair to paint everyone with the same brush.  “Our job is to maintain and promote high standards of the profession.

“We believe his comments are generalising.  “All we ask is for him to share his data, or any specific research to prove his point.  “If there is no research he can show us, then we ask for him to retract his statements.”

  • THE ARGUS reported on a renter staging a protest last month outside Wilkinsons, in Brighton, saying she was unfairly evicted.

The tenant, Bev Bishop, was supported by renters’ union Acorn.

She is angry that she was given notice to leave because she was late in returning her new tenancy agreement. Wilkinson said it has agreed to meet with Ms Bishop to discuss the issue.