At CARBS we are strong supporters of the national Citizens Advice campaign to protect private renters from unfair fees charged by landlords or letting agencies.

The campaign has had some success with the government introducing a bill to ban tenant fees.

Regrettably however a loophole in the Tenant Fees Bill risks unfair practices continuing by allowing “default fees”.

The government has said it will issue guidance on when and how a default fee can be charged, but this would not be legally enforceable.

Citizens Advice wants the government to close the loophole by including a clearer definition of when a default fee is legitimate and writing this into law.  It’s clear from other cases that guidance alone will leave tenants vulnerable to unscrupulous operators.

Our work on fees is part of the continuing Citizens Advice campaign for major improvements in the private rental sector where so many individuals and families are forced to live in insecure, high cost and often unhealthy accommodation.