National Trading Standards
Letting Agency Team
The National Trading Standards Letting Agency Team (NTSLAT) is hosted by Bristol City Council, being the lead enforcement authority (LEA) for the Tenant Fees Act 2019 (TFA 2019) and “relevant letting agency legislation” in England.
The relevant letting agency legislation
The relevant letting agency legislation:
- The Tenant Fees Act 2019, go to Guide to permitted and prohibited payments
- Section 83 Consumer Rights Act 2015 (such as duty of letting agents to publicise fees), go to Publishing fees and scheme information
- The Redress Schemes for Lettings Agency Work and Property Management Work (Requirement to Belong to a Scheme etc) (England) Order 2014
- The Client Money Protection Schemes for Property Agents (Requirement to Belong to a Scheme etc) Regulations 2019
What we do
Our general duties as lead enforcement authority are specified in Section 25 of the Tenant Fees Act 2019 as to:
- oversee the operation of the relevant letting agency legislation
- issue guidance to enforcement authorities about the exercise of their functions under the Tenant Fees Act 2019
- provide information and advice to authorities and the public in England about the operation of the relevant letting agency legislation
- keep under review and advise the Secretary of State about social and commercial developments in England and elsewhere relating to tenancies, the carrying on of letting agency work and related activities, and the operation of the relevant letting agency legislation
We may take steps to enforce the relevant letting agency legislation where we consider it's necessary or expedient to do so.
What we do not do
We do not:
- give specific, individual advice to consumers or businesses
- mediate or arbitrate in individual complaints
- award civil redress
- conduct routine investigations
Routine investigations are the responsibility of local authority trading standards, environment health and housing teams. However, in certain circumstances we may investigate relevant letting agency legislation breaches where a local authority cannot.