Trading Standards in the midlands are targeting letting agents over their service to students.

Leicestershire Trading Standards have made unannounced visits to four letting agents as the new term at Loughborough University gets under way.

Three of those agents were found to be in breach of a number of regulations, including consumer protection and EPCs, and have been given advice and warnings. Trading Standards says it will monitor the situation.

A Leicestershire County Council spokesman said: “An investigation by our Trading Standards team revealed that the main issues affecting students included unprotected deposits, unfair contract terms and hidden terms and conditions for all-inclusive contracts.

“Other issues include disputes over the return of deposits and disputes over claims for cleaning at the end of contracts.”

Senior Leicestershire Trading Standards officer Louise Boyall said: “One of the difficulties is that students seldom report problems.

“We did, however, receive one or two reports from young people at Loughborough University and felt it was an issue that needed looking into a little closer.

“We’ve found it’s a much bigger problem than people assume.”

Cllr Joe Orson, cabinet member for Trading Standards, said: “The high demand for term-time accommodation can provide ample opportunity for unscrupulous letting agents to take advantage of unsuspecting students, which can leave them out of pocket at the end of the academic year.”

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