Council Leader Calls For Affordable Housing Tariff

The Government should give local authorities the power to impose tariffs on developers to provide cash for more affordable housing, according to the leader of Westminster City Council. Cllr Nickie Aiken urged Whitehall to allow councils to institute ‘a locally-set charge paid on net increases in floor space’. This would allow the council to charge developers to help ease the burden they place on local infrastructure, he said. It would also help raise funds for affordable housing. Cllr Aiken compared the scheme to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and section 106 planning obligations which contribute towards the creation of sustainable communities and mitigate the negative aspects of developments. Read more on the LocalGov website.

MP Welcomes Move to Force Letting Agents to Publish Fees

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron has welcomed the government's decision to force letting agents to publish full tariffs of their fees. The South Lakes MP, who has lobbied for a fairer deal for tenants in the private rented sector, claims that the move is a "step in the right direction". Under the new rules, letting agents will be required to publish a full tariff of their fees on their websites and prominently in their offices. Those who fail to comply will face a fine – a much stricter penalty than currently exists. Read more on 24dash.