Strict lettings agents laws urged

%VIRTUAL-SkimlinksPromo%

Calls are being made for rental sector tenants to be given greater legal protection, which would see rogue lettings agents put out of business in the worst cases.

Which? said that lettings agents should be governed by the same laws as estate agents and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) should have the power to ban lettings agents who break the rules. There are 4.7 million UK households in the private rental sector and two-thirds of private tenancies involve an agent.