LABOUR announced yesterday that it will attempt to push through a ban on letting agents charging fees to tenants when they rent a property.

Leader Ed Miliband said the party will force a Commons vote on Tuesday on an amendment it is tabling to the Consumer Rights Bill which would outlaw the charges.

Highlighting the unfairness of the charges, he said: “If you buy a house, you don’t get charged fees but if you rent a house you do. 

“We are determined to stand up for generation rent.”

Generation Rent director Alex Hilton welcomed the plans, saying: “For years letting agents have been inventing innovative ways of rinsing money from renters. 

“Not only do they clamp themselves leech-like to our tenants, but they often also provide a very poor service to landlords.”

Housing Minister Kris Hopkins accused Mr Miliband of “playing politics” and warned: “Labour’s new regulations would force up rents, harming tenants.”