Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that private property management companies are charging tenants excessive (1) commission, and (2) charges, to cover their building insurance; and what steps they intend to take, if any, to curtail the practice.

The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for homeowners and renters and making sure that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service. This commitment includes raising professionalism and standards amongst managing agents, protecting consumers while defending the reputation of good agents from the actions of rogue operatives. We therefore welcome the ongoing work being undertaken by the industry itself to raise professionalism and standards across the sector.

The Government is considering the recommendations in the report received from the working group on the regulation of property agents chaired by Lord Best. We welcome the work of the independent steering group on codes of practice for property agents, and we will continue to work with industry on improving best practice.