AQW 45811/11-15

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 15/05/2015
Answered On Date: 28/05/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Social Development whether his Department will bring forward legislation to effectively regulate the payment of upfront fees in the private rental sector.

Answer:

The ‘Tenancy Deposit Scheme’ introduced by my Department in April 2013 safeguards tenancy deposits paid by a tenant at the start of a tenancy. In the first two years of operation over 40,000 deposits have been protected.

Protecting tenants from fees charged specifically by letting agents is one of a number of issues being considered under the review of the role and regulation of the Private Rented Sector which is currently underway. Developments in other jurisdictions, in relation to letting agents, will be considered under the review. A discussion document will issue before Summer to garner views. A consultation paper, on proposals for change, will issue before the end of 2015. Any legislation that will need to be introduced will be taken forward during 2016/17.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment can investigate any unreasonable charges under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations 1999.