TPO launches phase three of lettings fees campaign in Plymouth

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme has launched phase three of its national campaign with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) to tackle lettings agents that are breaking the law by not displaying their fees. The next phase will see TPO contacting 117 letting agents in Plymouth and the surrounding region.

Phase one and two of the campaign targeted agents in Swansea and Dorset followed by Reading, Basingstoke and the surrounding areas. The purpose of the campaign is to improve awareness of the current legislation that requires agents to display fee information, and ensure more firms are fully compliant to avoid fines being imposed by Trading Standards. The campaign requires agents to submit evidence and any firm that is found to be displaying the information incorrectly is given additional guidance and the opportunity to amend and re-submit to ensure they are compliant.

The first two phases of the campaign saw 445 agents asked to submit photographic evidence, and 99% and 95% of agents were displaying fees correctly as a result of the campaign. Agents that fail to comply and submit evidence will be referred directly to Trading Standards Officers, who can impose fines of up to £5,000.

Katrine Sporle, Property Ombudsman, said: “We’ve had an excellent response in the regions the campaign has focused on so far, with the vast majority of agents demonstrating they are compliant. This campaign is about educating agents that are either failing to display the required information or are unwittingly breaching the law by not displaying it correctly, which is why our campaign is phased so we can offer agents additional guidance and support so they can put things right and avoid risking a fine from Trading Standards.”

It has been reported that in the last three months, agents in London alone have been issued with fines from Trading Standards totalling as much as £370,000 for not displaying fees correctly.¹

To date, seven agents are due to be referred to Trading Standards for falling short of the standards outlined in TPO’s Lettings Code of Practice and failing to display their fees in accordance with the law.

While the Government has confirmed its intention to ban agents from charging tenants letting fees in the future, as laid out in its Draft Tenants’ Fees Bill this month, there is no confirmation on when this new legislation will come into effect. This means that the current law still applies and agents in England and Wales must display any tenant and landlord fees prominently, along with their redress membership and any Client Money Protection (CMP) scheme membership details. This information must be displayed at all premises where agents deal face-to-face with tenants and landlords, and on the agent’s website.

Furthermore, regardless of the future ban on tenant fees, letting agents will still be required to display fees charged to landlords.  Therefore, TPO and CTSI’s joint campaign to ensure agents display their fees in accordance with the law will continue.

As before, agents in Plymouth will be asked to provide photographic evidence to demonstrate they are correctly displaying their fees in both the branch and on their company website, as required by law.

Katrine added: “TPO has also been in contact with a Trading Standards Officer from Plymouth who is focusing on display of lettings fees and TPO and Trading Standards Plymouth hope to work collaboratively on this project to ensure we continue to see positive results or encourage agents to make changes where necessary.”

 

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or sponsored (paid for) content from third parties. 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

Majority of Tenants Unsure How Changes Will Affect Them, Says LRG

With major changes to the private rental sector on the horizon, 62% of tenants say they don’t know whether the government’s Renters’ Rights Bill will address their concerns – highlighting a growing need for clearer communication around what the reforms will mean in practice. LRG’s latest Lettings Report shows that while landlords are widely aware…
Read More
Home and Living

Perfume Storage Tips: How to Keep Your Fragrances Fresh

Perfumes are sensitive compositions that can be significantly affected by how they are stored. Proper storage ensures that your favorite fragrances stay fresh and maintain their intended scent profile. In this article, we’ll explore practical, fun, and effective tips to help you preserve your perfumes in perfect condition. Understanding the Sensitivity of Perfumes Perfumes are…
Read More
Breaking News

Renters’ Rights Bill Delay Causing Uncertainty for Tenants and Landlords

Ministers need to tell landlords and tenants when measures in the Renters’ Rights Bill will take effect the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is today warning. The Government pledged last year to abolish Section 21 ‘no explanation’ repossessions and to make other changes to the rental market this summer. With the Bill not scheduled to…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 02/04/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Made Snappy 360 appoints new CEO and Sales Director to accelerate growth in the property technology space Made Snappy 360, the fast-growing proptech company known for its virtual tours and floor plan technology, has appointed industry veteran Mark Beresford-Ward as its new Chief Executive…
Read More
Home and Living

Expert reveals the exact date parents must start renovating in time for summer

Loft and attic renovations are gaining popularity this spring, with nearly 11,000 monthly Google searches, highlighting them as one of the top home renovation projects Brits are planning in the coming weeks. Loft conversion specialist Sally McClean, loft conversion specialist from Enfields loft conversions Rooftop Rooms, shares the exact dates homeowners should start their renovations…
Read More
Breaking News

Nationwide HPI – Annual house price growth steady in March

Annual rate of house price growth remained stable in March at 3.9%, unchanged from February Northern Ireland remained the top performing area, with annual price growth accelerating to 13.5% London weakest performing region, with 1.9% year-on-year rise Commenting on the figures, Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist, said: “UK house price growth remained stable in March…
Read More