The Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA) held its annual ARLA Conference 2016 on Tuesday (12 April) at ExCel London.

The lettings conference and exhibition welcomed Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis MP, entrepreneur Deborah Meaden and journalist and former cabinet minister Michael Portillo as speakers who led discussions to delegates on issues around policy affecting the industry, the lettings market broadly, and the business environment for letting agents.

A roundtable discussion on fees, commissions, rent control and government priorities for the sector, chaired by Julian Worricker, took place involving panellists from Generation Rent, Shelter and the National Landlords Association. There was also a discussion around consumer laws – and whether they work – which involved representatives from Citizens Advice, the Residential Landlords Association and Hilary Osborne from The Guardian.

Lewis said: “The private rented sector performs a vital role in the housing market, and we are committed to its continuous improvement.

“We’re determined to create a bigger, better private rented sector and are attracting billions of pounds of investment to build homes specifically for private rent, which will increase choice for tenants. Increasing supply is the key to raising quality and choice, and improving affordability.

“We have also introduced measures to ensure tenants can be confident they will get a fair deal.” 

Peter Savage, president of ARLA, added: “Housing is an issue that is at the very top of the agenda at the moment and the fact that over 1,000 people took the time to attend our conference and exhibition shows how true that is.  The value of hearing from so many experts and debating real issues that face consumers and the industry cannot be underestimated. This year’s conference involved an extremely high standard of speakers, debates and audience which resulted in it being the most successful to date.”