London, UK (24th April, 2012) – MeetMyAgent.co.uk, an independent estate agent review and rating website, comment on the recent changes to the Localism Act and its impact on landlords and tenants.
The changes to the Localism Act, which came into force on 6th April 2012, have closed loopholes that had allowed landlords and letting agents who didn’t secure tenants’ deposits to escape penalties by doing so retrospectively.
Allowing 30 days to secure deposits instead of 14 means that landlords should be able to arrange for deposits to be protected within the given time frame, and those not securing them or securing them late will face penalties. They will also be unable to seek possession of the property using a Section 21 notice until the penalty is settled.
The new system should give tenants peace of mind that their deposits are safe and that landlords and agents who fail to meet their obligations are duly penalised.
Ashley Alexander, Director at MeetMyAgent.co.uk, says: “We would remind landlords that they should be vigilant when choosing their agent as they could be liable for penalties should the deposit not be protected within the prescribed limits, even if they don’t collect the deposit themselves. Local research should therefore be carried out to find out which are the most reputable letting agents, taking into account the experiences of previous landlords – and this is where MeetMyAgent can help.
“By reading past experiences by customers as well as being able to see general information about the agent, including their membership to regulatory bodies, landlords can ensure that they find and choose the best local estate or letting agent to instruct. This will ensure that the rental process is as hassle-free as possible, and landlords can have peace of mind that their best interests are taken care of.”
For more information on MeetMyAgent.co.uk and their local estate agents, visit their website at http://www.meetmyagent.co.uk
About MeetMyAgent.co.uk:
MeetMyAgent.co.uk is a London-based company specialising in independent estate agent reviews and ratings to help homeowners find the best estate agents for property sales or lettings. MeetMyAgent.co.uk’s website is simple and easy to use; a user simply types in their area or postcode and then can read independent, objective reviews and ratings from previous clients who have used estate agents in their area.
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