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Baroness Rendell has referenced ARLA in Lords Debate
Sunday, July 15, 2012
In a Lords
debate on rented housing, Baroness Rendell has referenced ARLA,
stating:
"Will the Minister agree that the Government need to set up a
fund to support local authorities who take enforcement action
against rogue landlords, such as criminal prosecution?
ARLA, the Association of Residential Letting Agents, has
produced a five-point action plan to support the private rented
sector. It advises the introduction of government regulation of
letting and sales agents. It suggests that investment in the
private rented sector should be encouraged by treating rented
property as an entrepreneurial business activity for capital gains
purposes and reintroducing rollover relief for landlords looking to
reinvest in the private rented sector. It recommends building more
homes to increase the supply of properties for rent and stresses
the need for the removal of VAT on purchases of material and labour
for capital expenditure. It recommends the introduction of capital
allowances for improvement to property and an increase in the scope
of the landlord's energy saving allowance to include the
installation of central heating systems and extending the scheme
past 2015.
"Estate and letting agents are currently unregulated,
meaning that anyone can set up an agency without the appropriate
qualifications or knowledge. ARLA believes that full mandatory
government regulation of sales and letting agents is the quickest
and most effective method to eliminate unprofessional, unqualified
and unethical agents from the rental market."