Letting Agency Fees - the Debate Spreads

Wednesday 30 November, 2016 Written by 
Letting Agency Fees

Plaid Cymru’s Leader has put the Welsh Government under pressure for failing to ban letting agent fees.

The Rhondda AM said during First Minister’s Questions that unless action is taken, Wales will be left trailing Scotland and England in prohibiting the charges.

Ms Wood also criticised the Welsh Government for voting against her party’s previous efforts to “implement policies that will help the lowest paid and people in poverty.” 

She said: “Last year Plaid Cymru tabled amendments to the renting homes bill, but you declined at that point to take the opportunity to ban excessive letting fees.

“Apparently against the wishes of your own backbenchers.

“Banning excessive agency fees is not the only issue on which your backbenchers have wanted to vote with Plaid Cymru amendments to improve legislation.

“We’ve wanted to ban zero hour contracts in social care.  There always seems to be an excuse; you don’t have the power or the amendment wasn’t drafted correctly or perhaps my favourite – ‘We haven’t consulted on the issue’

“This is after 17 years of being in power.”

The Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones has said he is actively considering banning letting agents' fees.  

A ban on the fees in England was announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond in his Autumn Statement.

Carwyn Jones told AMs during First Minister's Questions that it would look strange if there were fees in Wales, but not in England and Scotland.

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood accused him of being slow to act on a "vitally important social justice question".

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