Measures to reduce red tape for house builders and reforms to help protect tenants have been announced by communities minister Lord Tariq Ahmad.
The measures which will come in to force between today and 30 June 2015, include the Review of Local Technical Housing Standards, which is estimated to save developers and councils £96 million per year when fully implemented.
Other moves include a reduction in the qualifying time for Right to Buy from 5 to 3 years, allowing social housing tenants to become homeowners in a far shorter period of time,
In a further regulatory change letting agents will now be required to display their fees at their premises and on their website, with a description of what each fee covers. They will also be compelled to state whether they are a member of a client money protection scheme.
