The law currently prohibits prospective tenants being charged "premiums" on top of their deposit and rent in advance, but some letting agents have been charging various fees for years.

BBC: Call to clamp down on unscrupulous letting agents

In Britain, house buyers and sellers pay only 4-5% of the house price in stamp duty and estate agents' and lawyers' fees, but the emotional cost can be huge.

ECONOMIST: The housing market has not heard of globalisation

Ms Swinson said that selling privately could be a "useful and cost efficient method", but warned that - in order to avoid estate agents fees - consumers had less protection during the transaction.

BBC: Private home sales to be easier, says government

Letting agents fees, advertising, maintenance costs (but not improvement costs) and, in certain cases, mortgage interest payments, are all examples of expenses that can be offset.

BBC: A silver lining for the credit crunch?

But it also brought massive player wage inflation, agents and signing-on fees.

BBC: More

But a mystery shopper exercise carried out by 5 live Investigates found that some letting agents were still charging fees.

BBC: Call to clamp down on unscrupulous letting agents

However, the loss of direct commission from airlines made travel agents more beholden to the GDSs, which not only slip them a share of fees but also provide their back-office computing.

ECONOMIST: The travel business: The ineluctable middlemen | The