With the Tenant Fees Ban going live on 1^st June, Glynis Frew, CEO of Hunters Estates Agents and a leading industry figure, has warned of its likely unintended consequences and criticized politicians for failing to build enough homes to rent or buy.  She says that too often government policy on housing has started with good intentions but ended up creating undesirable consequences.

“It’s frustrating because the industry and government are actually joined up in their desire to ensure that tenants get a fair and honest deal,” she says.

“A small number of rogue agents or landlords have charged mind-boggling fees over the years. That’s a sad reality, but that’s not a fair reflection of the industry as a whole.”

Frew claims that both agents and landlords would have embraced fee caps instead of a tenant fees ban and that, because the government chose to ignore the industry’s advice, wonders if the fees ban will achieve its aims.

“Market forces will take their natural course and rent increases are likely to follow in many locations, especially where tenant demand is strongly outstripping supply,” says Frew.  She also criticises the revolving door of 17 housing ministers over the past 20 years.

“Not one has managed to build the number of homes the country is purported to need to satisfy demand and keep property affordable,” she says.

“Maybe, just maybe, if we had a Housing Minster that stayed long enough to understand the industry and the market, we would all do so much better.”