By Mike Edwards
The final stage in the initial creation of the SAFEagent scheme which soon launches to the public, will see it do so with a major endorsement from housing minister Grant Shapps. The endorsement includes displaying the kitemark on the CLG website, whilst Shapps has congratulated the industry for taking matters into its own hands and urged agents not signed up to the SAFEagent scheme to do so immediately. He announced the Government’s official support for the industry-led campaign at the same time as launching new factsheets for landlords and tenants. In them, both tenants and landlords are specifically advised that they should seek out a SAFEagent member. Shapps emphasised that he is supporting initiatives such as SAFEagent in preference to regulating the private rented sector. He has, however, has taken no convincing regarding the merits of the SAFEagent scheme. He said it was aimed at addressing a key area of concern for both tenants and landlords when it came to letting agents – making sure their money is safe.
Shapps said: “The private rented sector provides a valuable source of accommodation for over three million people in England, and the vast majority of them are happy with the service they receive. “That’s why I have promised not to wrap the sector in red tape, but instead to work with the industry to help them develop their own plans to tackle those bad landlords, and with councils to throw the book at those who don’t live up to their responsibilities.” He added that with SAFEagent he was “delighted the lettings industry has taken matters into its own hands, and is launching a quality standard that will ensure that landlords and tenants know what to expect from their members. These improvements could never be achieved by adding layers of pointless Government regulations.”
He went on: “This is exactly the sort of measure the private rented sector needs – simple and sensible changes that are driven by industry and designed to deliver results.” The SAFEagent scheme has been mentioned in the House of Lords as an example of the kind of voluntary initiative the Government wants to see in raising standards. But mandatory regulation of the private rented sector was not ruled out. It happened during a debate on an amendment to the Localism Bill aiming to insert a new clause into the Bill that would enable the statutory regulation of private letting agents to be introduced at some point. The amendment was also supported by the British Property Property Federation, Residential Landlords Association and housing charities.
Responding at the end of a lengthy debate, Lord Taylor of Holbeach, a Conservative peer and House of Lords whip, said: “I am delighted that the Government have been able to endorse the Safe Agent Fully Endorsed scheme – SAFE – recently launched by the industry which highlights a key risk around clients’ money. He went on: “I have considerable sympathy with those who have been caught out by bad practice, but we do not think that regulation now is the right answer.” September has been a good month for SAFEagent as apart from Government endorsement and passing 1200 agent registrations CFP Software, part of Guardian Media Group, is the latest industry supplier to offer its support to SAFEagent. CFPwinMan is the most widely used lettings and property management software package across the UK and is installed in over 3,000 businesses, with tens of thousands of users. It is the first, and currently remains the only, property management software to be accredited by the ICAEW.
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