New Trading Standards ‘police force’ for England and Wales revealed

A new national ‘police force’ with dedicated teams for both sales and lettings has been announced, the first of its kind in the UK. The private rental sector is to be monitored by a new team operated by Bristol City Council which includes enforcing the tenant fees ban, while the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team in Cardiff is to continue overseeing the property sales portion of the industry. Funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and led by James Munro based in Cardiff  (left), the combined force is to be called the National Trading Standards Estate & Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT). It is to act as the lead enforcement authority for the purposes of the Estate Agents Act 1979 and the Tenant Fees Act 2019. “At the moment, there is a severe lack of prosecution in the industry, allowing rogue agents to operate and thrive,” says David Cox (right) of ARLA Propertymark. “We look forward to building a constructive working relationship with the Lead Enforcement Authority to eliminate these agents from the sector once and for all.” The combined NTSELAT is to also approve and oversee the industry’s redress schemes, ombudsman services and dispute resolution bodies…