ombudsman
-
Features
Is the customer always right?
Redress schemes exist to safeguard consumer rights, but, says Joanne Christie, the agent is not, you’ll be pleased to hear, always in the wrong.
Read More » -
Features
Selling retirement property
Take great care when selling retirement property, to avoid accusations of neglect, says Katrine Sporle, The Property Ombudsman.
Read More » -
Features
When is a flat not a flat? When it’s afloat…”
"When is a flat not a flat? When it’s afloat…” says Katrine Sporle, The Property Ombudsman.
Read More » -
Features
When furniture is to be removed, be sure it is agreed in writing
When furniture is to be removed, be sure it is agreed in writing says Jane Erskine, Casework Director, the Property Ombudsman.
Read More » -
Features
Student lets can be a minefield, tread carefully
All letting agents will want to ensure that, when instructed by a landlord, they comply with the applicable legal requirements and the obligations set out in the TPO Code of Practice. However there are particular issues that are unique to student lets. It is important, when instructed by a landlord who wishes to let a property to students, to establish if a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) will be created. www.gov.uk defines a HMO as follows: A property is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) if both of the following apply: at least 3 tenants live there, forming more than 1 household each tenant shares toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities with other tenants The property is a large HMO if all of the following apply: it is at least three storeys high at least five tenants live there, forming more than one household each tenant shares toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities with other tenants. A household is either a single person or members of the same family who live together. A family includes people who are: married or living together – including people in same-sex relationships relatives or half-relatives, e.g. grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings step-parents and step-children. Three or more…
Read More » -
Features
Honesty and evidence is always the best policy
Honesty and evidence is always the best policy” says Jane Erskine, Casework Director, The Property Ombudsman.
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
“The agent who does nothing… is not entitled to a fee,”
"The agent who does nothing… is not entitled to a fee,” says Christopher Hamer, The Property Ombudsman.
Read More » -
Features
“Reckless referencing can have very serious consequences for agents,”
"Reckless referencing can have very serious consequences for agents,” says Christopher Hamer, The Property Ombudsman.
Read More » -
Features
“Sellers shouldn’t shift a shed without telling the buyer.”
Christopher Hamer, The Property Ombudsman.
Read More »
