The Tenants’ Voice also found that nearly a third of respondents (32%) had never heard of any of the main letting agent schemes that exist to protect tenants.
One in five (21%) had heard of Ombudsman Services but just 3% were aware of the National Approved Letting Scheme. Just 12% of tenants had heard of ARLA, and 9% knew about RICS.
Just over half of those polled (52%) felt that letting agents do no more the bare minimum when it comes to the duty of care they owe to tenants. More than a quarter (28%) of renters believe agents do not provide them with a suitable duty of care.
In fact, most tenants would prefer not to deal with letting agents at all. Despite the fact that agents are supposed to be reliable professionals, 64% of tenants would prefer to rent directly from a landlord.
Glenn Nickols, founder of The Tenants’ Voice, said: “What’s clearly lacking in the relationship between tenants and letting agents is trust. In some cases it’s there, but in many more it’s not. Given the vast number of people who rent these days, the fact that nearly half do not feel like their interests are being protected by agents should make the industry sit up.
“More needs to be done to drive awareness of the various schemes that exist to protect tenants’ interests, too. Many tenants are having to find their way in the dark and the industry often appears happy for them to do so.”
