Search Results for: Tenant Fees Act
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Regulation & Law
The definition of Redress
Do you ever feel like the world is ganging up on you? Sales and letting agents are the whipping-boy of the property industry, they have to belong to an approved redress scheme and can be fined up to £5000 if they do not. The agency, seemingly, is always in the wrong, while buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants are – until proved otherwise – the wronged party. The inference is that the agent is a ‘rogue’ but the number of ‘rogues’ is lower than you’d think. One big issue with redress is that with so many ways to complain, and a rising awareness of our rights, complaining is very popular. The national press delight in reporting on heartbreaking stories of clients let down by rogue agents, always with the inference that it is a common problem, that estate and letting agents, are generally untrustworthy – patently unfair. However, all three redress schemes: The Property Ombudsman, Property Redress Scheme and Ombudsman Services: Property, are still growing in membership and, as a result are reporting an increasing number of complaints. Business is brisk. The Property Ombudsman (TPOS), for example, reported a 42 per cent year-on-year rise. However, TPOS has over 30,000 member offices…
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Agencies & People
The franchise fast track
Could joining a franchise really provide a rapid route to success? Marc Da Silva reports.
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Resources
Training for staff development
If you want to build up value in your business, invest in your staff, says Andrea Kirkby.
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Latest property news
TPO expels another agent
West London estate agents Bruten & Co Limited has been expelled from membership of The Property Ombudsman (TPO) for a minimum of two years after failing to comply with parts of the Code of Practice for Residential Letting Agents and failing to pay an Ombudsman’s award made of £768 to complainants. The decision to expel Bruten & Co, based in Notting Hill, from TPO membership came about following a complaint from prospective tenants who raised concerns about several elements of the firm’s level of service whilst applying to rent a home. The complaint had two parts. The first part, about the attempt to arrange a tenancy, consisted of three elements, two of which were upheld by the Ombudsman, Christopher Hamer. The second part, about handling of the prospective tenants’ complaint was also upheld. The tenancy agreement was sent to the prospective tenants with a significant extra term which was not in the offer form they had signed. But Bruten & Co refused either to amend the tenancy agreement or return the deposit and administration fees. The company also failed to clarify for the complainants how the utility bills for the property would be calculated. The agent declined to deal with…
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Products & Services
Home-wreckers
Your clients need landlord insurance to protect their businesses from going to pot, says Marc Da Silva.
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Regulation & Law
Speeding up evictions
The eviction process is lengthy, costly and an absolute pain, says Andrea Kirkby.
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Regulation & Law
Righting the wrongs
When a vendor was recently advised by the estate agent to reduce his asking price and complete additional works on the property, it seemed like sound advice to speed up the sale of his property, especially as the house went under offer just a few days later. But when it materialised that the buyer was actually a member of staff at the estate agency, the seller issued a complaint to the Ombudsman Services on the grounds that the company had failed to disclose this conflict of interest, which may have influenced the negotiation. “In the small number of cases where people have complaints these should be addressed quickly and effectively.” Brandon Lewis, Minsiter for Housing & Planning The estate agent maintained that it sold the property to the highest bidder. It also stated that the complainant was aware of the conflict in interest. However, upon investigation, the Ombudsman Services could find no evidence to show that the conflict of interest was disclosed to the complainant (the vendor) in writing, which is a legal requirement, in accordance with the Estate Agents Act. Following its failure to follow the rules, Ombudsman Services ordered the company to reduce their commission for selling the…
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Agencies & People
Buy to grow
What is the best way to expand – buy a business or build one from scratch? It’s a tough decision and different companies have come to very different conclusions, as Adam Walker of Adam J Walker & Associates explains.
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Features
Playing the buy-to-let game
Andrea Kirkby says investors can win the buy-to-let game, if they hit the right location, at the right price, at the right time.
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Agencies & People
The big debate: traditional agent vs online agent?
Traditional agent Lee James Pendleton makes the case for the traditional model while Alex Gosling bats for the online agent model.
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