The Government is promoting outdated guidance on how to let and rent a property.
Its How to Let guide for agents and landlords and How to Rent guide for tenants were last updated in 2018.
But links to them were included in a Government guidance document released last week on the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords.
The How to Let guide still states that mandatory client money protection is not yet law, despite it being introduced from the start of this month.
It said: “Client money protection scheme notification. It is good practice for agents to be members of a client money protection scheme, which protects rent paid to the agent whilst it is in their possession in the event of fraud or bankruptcy.
“In England, all letting agents must state whether or not they belong to a client money protection (CMP) scheme. Government has committed to making it mandatory for agents in the private rented sector to join a scheme but it is not law yet.”
The How to Rent guide also asks tenants to check if their agent is a member of a CMP scheme.
It is understood that the Government has been informed of this discrepancy by industry bodies but is yet to take any action.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government did not respond to requests for comment.
The more blue tape (used to be called red tape) the cons introduce the more the errors they will make. It’s a competency thing!
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didn’t know that – so has anybody actually read the guide? anybody?
out of date already, amazing.
what a waste.
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