Second letting agent expelled by Ombudsman

It has now been revealed that a second lettings agent has been expelled for allegedly failing to pay a compensation award made by TPO.

Yesterday LAT revealed that Whytehead Property Management, which trades as LBW Lettings in Fleet, Hampshire, refused to pay an award made by TPO following a complaint over the management of repairs to the landlord's property and failing to reference a tenant.

Now it appears another agent, Arvin Estates, has been expelled for a similar reason.

Arvin, which TPO says has now ceased trading, provided sales and lettings services from a single office in Hounslow. TPO has investigated a complaint claiming that AE was withholding and delaying rental payments from a tenant, was using unethical practices to gain the original instruction from the landlord to rent the property, and was then failing to inform the landlord of issues reported by the tenant.

AE, despite numerous requests, allegedly failed to provide documentation for TPO to review as part of the investigation, made no substantive response to the concerns raised by the complainant, and then failed to pay the compensation award of £1,725 that the Ombudsman had made.

The Ombudsman considered that these failings by the agent amounted to serious breaches of the TPO Code of Practice and expelled the agent. The decision was taken in April.

Gerry Fitzjohn, TPO's chief operating officer, says the case clearly demonstrates a number of failings by Arvin Estates and while the firm is now out of business other agents should note that failure to meet their obligations to co-operate with the Ombudsman can have serious consequences for their business.