99% of TPO letting agents in Swansea & Dorset now displaying their fees correctly

March 27, 2017

Phase one of a national campaign between The Property Ombudsman (TPO) and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) to tackle letting agents breaking the law by not displaying their fees, is complete. The Property Ombudsman has confirmed that 99% of TPO letting agents in Swansea and Dorset are now compliant. Phase two of the campaign is due to launch week commencing 27th March.

Despite the government announcing plans to ban agents from charging tenants upfront lettings fees, a period of consultation to draft and pass new regulations is yet to commence.  In the meantime, the obligations on English and Welsh letting agents to display fees – along with redress and Client Money Protection (CMP)* scheme membership details – remain.

Furthermore, any future ban of tenant fees will not prevent letting agents from charging fees to landlords.  Therefore, TPO and CTSI’s joint campaign to ensure agents display their fees in accordance with the law will continue.

During phase one, 266 TPO letting agents across Swansea and Dorset were asked to provide photographic evidence to demonstrate compliance with the law by displaying their fees in both the branch and on their company website. Any agents found to be displaying the required information incorrectly were then given the opportunity to amend and re-submit.

Just two agents have failed to comply (by either not responding or not addressing flagged inaccuracies), and will now be referred to the scheme’s Disciplinary & Standards Committee (DSC) for further investigation.  The DSC is independent to the industry and has the powers to fine, suspend or expel an agent from TPO, as well as refer them to Trading Standards Officers, who can impose fines of up to £5,000.

Adrian Simpson, the CTSI’s business education and consumer codes expert, said: “We are extremely pleased by the response to the campaign. It clearly demonstrates that TPO agents are aware of their responsibilities, willing to make improvements where necessary and committed to the highest levels of consumer protection.”

Following the success of Phase One, The Property Ombudsman Scheme (TPO) has announced Reading, Basingstoke and surrounding areas as the next locations for its campaign, which will target 179 letting agents.

Katrine Sporle, Property Ombudsman, said: “TPO has seen an increase in the number of enquiries about fees from tenants in recent weeks. It is essential that agents provide clarity and transparency about what fees are being charged for what service so that all parties understand the commitments they are entering into”.

Breaking News by Helen Evison, Helen@theinhouseway.co.uk

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or advertising content from third parties and affiliations.. Please be advised that links to third party websites are not endorsed by Estate Agent Networking - Please do your own research before committing to any third party business promoted on our website.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Rental price and average salary tracker – October 2026

Rental prices rise across most regions as affordability pressures persist Average monthly rents increased in eight of the 11 regions between September and October, with Wales recording the largest rise at 31.1%, followed by the North East at 29.8% and the South West at 7.5%. Scotland, London and the North West were the only regions…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

Portfolio landlords have outgrown traditional property management

By Adam Hills, Client Services Director, LRG Living Markets The residential lettings industry still manages many large portfolios as though they’re simply collections of individual tenancies. While that works on small portfolios, but it doesn’t work when landlords own 50, 100 or 200 properties. At that point, the challenge is no longer property management alone…
Read More →
Breaking News

Real-life value of the most famous Christmas film homes

The real-life value of the most famous Christmas film homes, from budget classics to multimillion-pound mansions New research has gathered and analysed the estimated valuations of real homes featured in popular Christmas films, ranking them by cost. The priciest homes are featured in The Holiday, Trading Places, and Home Alone, with Amanda’s home from The…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

77% of buyers refuse to buy a flood risk property

Despite 4.7 million English homes facing flood risk New research from Lyons Bowe has revealed that 77% of homebuyers would not consider purchasing a property in a flood risk area, despite more than 4.7 million homes across England currently being deemed at risk of flooding. The findings come as the Government launches a new flood taskforce amid…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

Poor Communication becomes Expensive at Scale

The hidden cost of fragmented property management By Adam Hills, Client Services Director, LRG Living Markets A landlord asks for an update on a repair. The property manager asks the contractor, who is waiting for access from the tenant. Meanwhile, the accounts team has received an invoice but cannot tell whether the work is complete.…
Read More →
Estate Agents should not all look the same
Estate Agent Talk

When Estate Agents Decide to Go Solo

Leaving an established estate agency to work independently gives experienced agents more control over fees, client service and working hours. It also brings responsibility for compliance, cash flow and every part of the customer experience. Before handing in your notice, test the idea against realistic sales volumes, local competition and the amount of time you…
Read More →