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TPO to report agents who don’t display letting fees

Ombudsman and Trading Standards talk very tough on compliance and fines

Nigel Lewis

Agents who cannot provide photographic evidence that they are displaying their letting fees both in their branch and on their company website will be referred to Trading Standards for further action by The Property Ombudsman (TPO), it has been revealed.

Katrina SporleThe initiative has been launched jointly by TPO and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) both to improve industry compliance with the 2015 Consumer Rights Act, and also raise awareness among tenants and landlords about fees and create competition between agents.

TPO members, who make up 85% of all UK letting agents, are bound to comply with its CTSI-approved lettings Code of Practice, which clearly states that agents must display their fees in accordance with the act.

The joint campaign is to kick off in Dorset and Swansea before being rolled out across the UK and to enforce compliance, Property Ombudsman Katrina Sporle (pictured, above) says she will be working closely with Trading Standards Officers. Those found not to be displaying their fees can be fined up to £5,000.

Gerry Fitzjohn TPO“Any agent that has failed to display their fees up until now must act,” says Adrian Simpson from the CTSI. “We are aware of Trading Standards Officers taking serious action against those that fail to comply.”

Gerry Fitzjohn (pictured, left), TPO’s chairman, takes a similarly hard line: “We want our agents to lead from the front,” he says. “There can be no excuses – we’re zero tolerant on this issue. Letting fees are under the spotlight and firms would be well advised to get their house in order.”

October 26, 2016

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