Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to require estate agents to disclose commission payments when recommending (a) building societies and (b) mortgage advisors to prospective purchasers.

It is unacceptable for estate agents to withhold referral fee information from customers before they decide whether to commission services from the agent's recommended supplier.

Agents who fail to disclose such fees may face sanctions and it is essential that any misconduct related to referral fee transparency is reported.

The government is committed to ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous property agents. We will set out our full position on regulation of estate, letting and managing agents in due course.