ARLA Propertymark launches tenant fees toolkit

ARLA Propertymark has launched a tenant fees toolkit for members, including factsheets and template documents to help members prepare for when the Tenant Fees Act comes into effect on 1June 2019.

Launched at ExCel London during ARLA Propertymark’s annual Conference and available to all ARLA Propertymark members from today, thetoolkit contains 10 factsheets covering all aspects of the ban, and a series of 18 short films looking at specific issues.

David Cox, chief executive, ARLA Propertymark said: “The Tenant Fees Toolkit we are launching today will help our members comply with the ban; giving them practical tools and materials to operate in a post-tenant-fees world.

“With less than 40 working days to go until the ban comes into effect, agents need to ensure they’re compliant with the law, and both landlords and tenants understand what it means for them.”

It also includes a simple tenant guide, a case study from a Scottish letting agent looking at how they dealt with their ban and practical tips to help agents deal with the loss of income.

It includes a suite of template legal documents,including an updated tenancy agreement with Tenant Fees Act compliant sections on default fees and a new deposit clause.

Agents will also have access to newfeetemplates, and a template Variation of Contract to use during the transition period that will incorporate fees into existing ASTs.

For holding deposits, there are template letters for when they need to be refunded, when it is forfeited, for transferring it into the first month’s rent and for when agents need more than 15 days to get everything sorted.

Once the government’s guidance – launched yesterday – has been digested, a factsheet for landlords on why their costs are changing and answers to more than 100 frequently asked questions will be added.