MPs have been told that estate agents should be licensed as billions of pounds ‘slosh’ through London, with some of the world’s vilest dictators buying up property.

The recommendation is now likely to be put through to the Government.

Housing expert Henry Pryor made the call for licensing when appearing before the Home Affairs Select Committee to give evidence about money laundering.

Appearing alongside him was a witness from Transparency International, which exposes corruption worldwide.

Pryor, who has regularly used his Twitter account to criticise both the NAEA and the RICS since last July’s screening of From Russia With Cash, said he had received the call to appear only last Friday.

He told EYE that appearing before the committee, chaired by Keith Vaz, was “a bit like going in front of the head teacher”.

After From Russia With Cash – which showed estate agents from well-known firms and included NAEA and RICS members apparently helping a clearly dodgy Russian buyer – both the membership bodies immediately said they would conduct their own inquiries.

However, ten months later, the state of their progress remains unknown.

On Tuesday, Pryor was asked by the Select Committee for his opinions as to whether there is a problem among estate agents with money laundering, and what advice should the committee give the Government.

Pryor said that one problem was that the industry itself remains uncertain of its obligations, with some estate agents believing that their legal duty was limited only to do due diligence on their clients – ie the sellers but not the buyers.

He also said that anti-money laundering rules did not target letting agents “who should be brought into the fold”.

He pointed out that someone could buy a house “with their ill-gotten gains” and then let it out and earn “clean money”.

He said that the agency industry is by and large unregulated, with anyone able to set up as an agent.

Pryor told EYE that when he said “regulated” he specifically meant “licensed”.

Transparency International claimed that estate agents are failing to report suspects, and that London is a prime destination for laundering money.

Pryor – who has been described as having the best hair in radio – can be seen in action here – and he is in excellent form.