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Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL]

My Lords, I support the amendment. It is my understanding that there are far more queries and complaints about lettings through estate agents than there are about sales. One has only to talk to people or to read the newspapers to realise that people are greatly concerned that they have been dealt with badly when they have let properties and they are unhappy about that. We all congratulated the Government on the Bill, despite our reservations about details—and I introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the previous Session. That also did not concern lettings, but that was an oversight on my part and there were some drafting difficulties. I understand from my noble friend the Minister that there are some technical difficulties with including lettings in this Bill. On the other hand, we have come such a long way in improving the situation with regard to estate agents that it would seem a pity not to deal with lettings as well. Even if there are difficulties, it is not beyond the powers of my noble friend and the parliamentary draftsman to sort this out. The amendment may be technically defective—I do not think that it is but that is the usual Front Bench comment when one moves an amendment—but surely we should not miss this opportunity. It will be a long time before we get one again and if the Government are intent on dealing with the problem, why do they not deal with its totality? This is a serious issue. I urge my noble friend to look at this matter, consider whether he can support the principle and, if necessary, deal with the details of an amendment at the next stage—although I hope that he can accept the amendment as it stands.