Last week was a busy one for me. In Parliament I spoke in a
number of debates, including leading one on proportional representation via my
role on the Petitions Committee, and also contributed to the tax on beer and
pubs debate, which with St Austell Brewery a major employer in Mid-Cornwall is
particularly important to us ahead of the upcoming Budget.
Following this, I came back to Mid-Cornwall for a packed few
days, including meetings with Cornwall’s leadership board, filming my slot on
BBC’s Sunday Politics, a busy constituency advice surgery in St Austell and
selling poppies with the Royal British Legion ahead of Remembrance Day this
coming weekend.
Meanwhile last week also saw the introduction to Parliament
of a new draft bill to ban letting fees.
While the Government is taking many positive steps to increase
and encourage home ownership, it is also crucial that we protect those in the
rented sector, which has long been under regulated and has not provided enough
protection of both tenants and landlords alike. Whilst many letting agents
provide a good service, it is clear that there are some who do not.
The draft Tenant Fees Bill will set out the Government’s
approach to banning letting fees for tenants, helping millions of renters by
bringing an end to costly upfront payments.
Evidence shows the level of fees charged are often not
clearly or consistently explained, leaving many tenants unaware of the true
costs of renting a property.
This latest action will help improve transparency,
affordability and competition in the private rental market. It will also
prevent agents from double charging both tenants and landlords for the same
services.
As well as these changes, Secretary of State for Communities
and Local Government Sajid Javid last week announced plans to crack down on
letting and management agents who make tenants, leaseholders and increasingly
home owners on new estates, pay overpriced service charges.
Government data estimates that services charges paid to
management companies total between a staggering £2.5 billion and £3.5 billion a
year, a vast amount of money.
Many leaseholders and home owners share the cost of
maintenance and repairs, including for open spaces, paying service charges. I
have had many complaints about landlords and letting agents arbitrarily
increasing service charges.
The Government is in the process of bringing measures to
protect consumers from unfair costs and overpriced service charges as well as
providing ways to place more power in the hands of consumers by giving
leaseholders and owners more say over their agent.
As ever with Parliamentary Bills, its passing through
Parliament will be a lengthy process and the devil will be in the detail. I
will be closely monitoring this Bill as it proceeds to ensure concerns that
have been raised with me by tenants and landlords in Mid-Cornwall are reflected
in the finished legislation.
My team and I are here to serve the whole constituency and
work hard to make a real difference to the lives of everyone needing support.
The office is open to the public Monday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm (no
appointment necessary). If there is an issue you would like my assistance on
then please, either visit the office or contact me on either 01726 829379 or
office@stevedouble.org.uk. Additionally, I hold regular, appointment only,
advice surgeries across the constituency. Dates of these can be found at: www.stevedouble.org.uk/events
