Update: Auctioneers body argues €500 placement fee could lead to conflict of interest

Private letting agents are being offered a €500 placement fee if they rent properties to homeless families.

Update - 1.23pm: The Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers has said that placement fees to letting agents could give rise to a "conflict of interest" where an agent is already engaged by the landlord of a particular property that may be the subject of such a fee.

It comes after news that local authorities are approaching agents and offering them the fee once a HAP tenant moves into the home.