The lettings sector is at the forefront of government proposals for a new redress system for customers of agents and others. 

In a statement released over the weekend, Housing Secretary Sajid Javid announced that dissatisfied owners and tenants tenants should have “a clearer version of redress for their grievances.”

Now the government is seeking opinions over the next eight weeks about its official options including:

– introducing a single housing ombudsman to cover the whole of the housing market

– if homes builders should be required to join an ombudsman scheme, following on our commitment to expand redress to tenants of private landlords

– naming and shaming poor practice to help tackle the worst abuses

Housing Secretary Sajid Javid says: “For too long, tenants and homeowners have navigated multiple complaints procedures to resolve disputes about everyday household repairs and maintenance.

“Fixing this housing crisis is about more than just building homes, it’s ensuring people have the answers available when something goes wrong.

“[This] top-to-bottom review shows government is working hard to deliver a better and simpler system.”

Javid says that unlike other areas, such as financial services that have a single and accountable ombudsman, housing has at least four different complaints bodies.

“In the private rented sector, there is currently no obligation for landlords to register with a complaints system and this can often leave thousands who do not use a property agent without any option for redress” he says.

The eight week consultation is underway with an online form available until April 16.

This consultation is open to all including: tenants, landlords, homeowners, and existing ombudsman schemes.

The government will provide more information on future proposals to the housing redress process following the conclusion of this consultation.

You can see the full consultation document here.