UK estate agents have reacted with disappointment to news that the housing minister will not be following up plans to introduce regulation on the private rental sector. Responding to an announcement by housing minister Grant Shapps regarding tenant and landlord rights, the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) suggested it was an opportunity missed to tighten up loopholes and ensure those looking for homes to rent could do so more effectively. Ian Potter, operations manager at ARLA, pointed to the lack of requirement for lettings agents or landlords to take any kind of professional qualification as one simple example of an unregulated market which could be difficult for tenants to navigate. "In today's market, when people are becoming increasingly desperate to find a home, there will be increasing opportunity for unethical operators to take advantage of consumers," he warned. Mr Potter argued that using a licensed agent was one way to afford greater consumer protection, offering a means for redress and establishing greater trust between landlord and tenant. ARLA runs its own licensing scheme, which is aimed at promoting core standards of practice in the lettings and property management industry, although this is not backed by government regulations and is a voluntary scheme.