Zoopla calls for mandatory training for agents
Zoopla’s Letting Advisory Board has written a letter to the government which outlines recommendations which the board believes will help to raise standards in the private rented sector. These build on proposals set out in the new Renters Rights Bill outlined in the King’s Speech.
The Board has drawn up recommendations for the new government that would:
+ Raise standards by levelling the playing field for those letting and managing rented homes
+ Safeguard the quality of private rented accommodation
+ Help tenants know the property they are renting is safe
The Board believes that 1) training and education and 2) the setting of minimum property standards should be key areas of focus to improve the quality of property available and the experience of renting homes.
The letter from the Board is accompanied by a detailed appendix setting out how these proposals could be established and evolve as they are rolled out. The headline proposals are as follows:
Mandatory training for those operating in the PRS
The majority of businesses who rent out and manage rented homes strive to ensure that tenants are provided with housing that meets a decent standard of safety. However, anyone can let property and there is no specific requirement that must first be met to carry out this role. This creates risk for the private rented sector, as the level of knowledge across operators varies significantly, without an expected standard of qualification or training.
Mandatory training has long been called for and many estate agent operators already train their staff on a voluntary basis to a Level 3 qualification standard (equivalent to an A-Level). Such agency training is widely available through several accredited examination bodies and could be extended to cover all operators that let and manage homes. This is not included in the Renters Rights Bill proposals but should be considered as a key element to raising standards.
Enforcing a minimum standard of PRS accommodation
The Board supports the introduction of a private rented property database (PRPD) which is proposed in the Renters Rights Bill. It’s important this is designed with the input of industry so that it delivers its intended purposes and links to the ambition for a decent homes standard for private rented homes.
All privately rented properties should achieve a decent standard certification, recorded via PRPD and with key information displayed on all property marketing, as part of material information. The certification standards need to evolve as data becomes digitised and more readily available. It’s important this information is accessible to all market participants including property portals and lenders.
This certification should be provided to any prospective tenant before a viewing, as a declaration of safety. This creates automated regulation and enforcement, enabling greater transparency, and enabling renters to select properties based on the standard of accommodation. The letter proposes a staged process to develop decent homes standards for private rented homes.
Nicola Thivessen, chair of Zoopla’s Lettings Advisory Board and director of group compliance at Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, said: “We are encouraged to see that improving the PRS remains a core priority of the new Government. Particularly the introduction of a new database that, with the correct implementation, is an opportunity to create transparency of property safety and drive rogue landlords from the sector.
“The Board remains keen to see the introduction of mandatory qualifications for those operating in the PRS and we encourage the government to review and prioritise this in future legislation, to ensure a minimum standard of knowledge and support for tenants.”
