Consumer organisation Which? claims there are some 1,000 reports of rental fraud scams a month at this time of year. It says...
Archive
![Shock rise in compensation paid by letting agents last year](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/2_MortgageCalculated.png)
The Property Ombudsman received a record number of enquiries with 57,635 people seeking support with their property and housing related issues...
10 June 2024
From: Breaking News
![Propertymark guide helps tenants complain and challenge rent rises](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/HousePrices_balancing-400x310.png)
A new guide from Propertymark explains the rights which private rental tenants have - and sets out how they can challenge...
23 April 2024
From: Breaking News
![Regulation of Property Agents - government slammed by Lords](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/LearningAgents-400x310.png)
The government’s failure to act on the Regulation of Property Agents (RoPA) working party - chaired by Lord Richard Best and...
22 April 2024
From: Breaking News
![Expelled! Agency kicked out by Ombudsman for just £1,100](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews3-400x310.png)
A lettings agency has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme following itsfailure to pay £1,100 out of an adjudicated award...
26 March 2024
From: Breaking News
![Gove accused of dragging his feet over agent regulation](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/Estate_Agents-400x310.png)
The all-party House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has urged the government to get on with establishing a regulator of...
22 March 2024
From: Breaking News
![Is the government deliberately delaying the Renters Reform Bill?](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews3-400x310.png)
The long-awaited Third Reading of the controversial Renters Reform Bill will not happen this week according to the Leader of the...
29 January 2024
From: Breaking News
![Agents List Radical Changes needed to Renters Reform Bill](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/Compliance-1-400x310.png)
Propertymark's latest research report suggests some letting agents want radical changes to the Renters Reform Bill now going through Parliament. The aim...
25 January 2024
From: Breaking News
![Agency failed to return vacant possession of rental property to landlord](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/ToLetBoard-400x310.png)
A London lettings agency has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman for not paying compensation to a landlord following a failure...
14 December 2023
From: Breaking News
![Agents list major problems with Renters Reform Bill](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/LearningAgents-400x310.png)
Propertymark has set out its pro-agency position on a range of issues contained in the Renters Reform Bill, currently trundling through...
07 December 2023
From: Breaking News
![Scams expert joins board of The Property Ombudsman](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews3-400x310.png)
The Head of the National Trading Standards Scams Team is one of two new non-executive directors at The Property Ombudsman. Louise Baxter...
12 September 2023
From: Breaking News
![Rogue agency expelled from Ombudsman but still trading illegally](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews-400x310.png)
A rogue lettings agency in London has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme but is still thought to be trading. Hawks...
10 August 2023
From: Breaking News
![Renters Reform Bill - Online course explains what it means](/upload/images/shutterstock_1250649805.jpg)
PropTech platform Goodlord has launched a one hour online course explaining the controversial Renters Reform Bill. The aim is to equip letting...
04 August 2023
From: Breaking News
![Not Good Enough! Property Ombudsman criticises private rental quality](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/HouseInspection_400x310.png)
New figures released this morning from The Property Ombudsman show that the overwhelming number of disputes in the past year involved...
03 August 2023
From: Breaking News
![Kicked Out! Redress scheme expels five rogue agencies](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/Franchise-400x310.png)
The Property Redress Scheme has released its latest list of expelled agents - mostly for rental misdemeanours and/or failure to pay...
24 July 2023
From: Breaking News
![Pets and Kids Not Welcome? New analysis of rental listings](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Pets/DogsandCats-400x310.png)
Thousands of listing for rental properties on two popular websites explicitly say children or pets are not welcome. A BBC analysis of...
05 July 2023
From: Breaking News
![Expelled! Rogue agents expelled from Property Redress Scheme](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/Banned_400x310.png)
The Property Redress Scheme, one of two government-approved redress services, has produced a list of recently-expelled agencies. All agencies must be a...
26 April 2023
From: Breaking News
![String of dodgy letting agents expelled by Ombudsman](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/Banned_400x310.png)
Several lettings agents have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme; they are amongst eight named as having been kicked out...
06 April 2023
From: Breaking News
![Ombudsman rules on tenants with children discrimination case](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/FamilyBuyers-400x310.png)
The Property Ombudsman has ruled that a letting agency’s ban on renting to a family with children was discriminatory against women...
23 March 2023
From: Breaking News
![Six agencies expelled by The Property Ombudsman](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/Banned_400x310.png)
It’s been revealed that agents have been kicked out of The Property Ombudsman in recent months for failing to pay compensatory...
27 January 2023
From: Breaking News
![Banks are closing their doors to Letting Agents](/upload/images/Back-link-images/banks%20are%20closing%20their%20doors%20to%20letting%20agents.jpg)
UK banks are closing client accounts held by established letting agents and refusing to open accounts for new businesses. The Problem A growing...
19 December 2022
From: Sponsored Content
![Media accuse agents of mis-selling deposit alternative schemes](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/MortgageCalculated1_400x310.png)
The Observer newspaper has investigated the way letting agents apply so-called zero deposit schemes - and claims that in some cases...
05 December 2022
From: Breaking News
![Big rise in lettings enquiries to The Property Ombudsman](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/Forecast-400x310.png)
The Property Ombudsman has reported a big rise in enquiries over last year and a huge rise since the pre-Covid year,...
02 November 2022
From: Breaking News
![Civil servants and Trading Standards to brief agents on law change](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/Property-court-400x310.png)
Officials from the Welsh Government and the head of the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agent team are to address...
21 October 2022
From: Breaking News
![Named, Shamed, Expelled - rogue agents thrown out by Ombudsman](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/Court-UK-400x310.png)
Five agencies have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme - all for compliance failures. The first is Home Trader Properties, in...
04 October 2022
From: Breaking News
![Belvoir branch amongst raft of agencies kicked out of The Property Ombudsman](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/Property-Newspaper-400x310.jpg)
Six agencies have been excluded from The Property Ombudsman for failing to pay compensation to wronged complainants. One was the Belvoir...
13 July 2022
From: Breaking News
![Beefed Up Property Details - industry bosses back call for Material Information](/upload/images/PropTech%20%26%20Online/AgentsWindow-1-400x310.jpg)
Senior figures in the agency industry have backed new guidance from the National Trading Standards Estate and Lettings Agent Team regarding...
13 July 2022
From: Breaking News
![Rent Controls - body discussing implementation recruits top agency figure](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/BusinessResults-400x310-.jpg)
A Parliamentary group currently investigating the possible implementation of rent controls is to be joined by a senior figure from Propertymark. The...
07 June 2022
From: Breaking News
![Property Fraud - Agents have key role to deter crime](/upload/images/Miscellaneous/scam%20alert.png)
An hour-long webinar this week aims to inform agents how to deter property fraud by greater emphasis on compliance, due diligence...
24 January 2022
From: Breaking News
![Expelled by Ombudsman - rogue agents who refuse to pay compensation](/upload/images/Rental%20Market/CourtCase-400x310.png)
Two agencies have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme for failing to pay compensation awards. Thamlet Estates, based in east London,...
20 January 2022
From: Breaking News
![Agency employee admits “no lawful basis” for using tenant’s data](/upload/images/Logos/ConnellsGroupWhiteLogo-400x310.jpg)
A member of staff at a Connells-owned branch has been quoted as saying the agency had “no lawful basis” for passing...
14 January 2022
From: Breaking News
![Agency pays thousands for breaching Tenant Fees Act](/upload/images/Rental%20Market/Fined-400x310.jpg)
A London-focussed lettings agency group has paid £2,000 as a result of breaching the Tenant Fees Act. The issue relates to the...
23 December 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agents Beware: ‘information checklist’ to avoid potential fines and claims](/upload/images/Rental%20Market/landlord-licencing400x310.png)
A checklist for agents to help ensure they steer clear of unwanted fines or claims has been provided by the Guild...
20 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![Expelled! Rogue letting agents kicked out by The Property Ombudsman](/upload/images/new-story-stock-images/CourtImage-400x310.jpg)
Six agencies have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman for failing to pay compensatory awards - five of them for offences...
11 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![Lettings agent jailed after £182,000 fraud](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/police-tape400x310.png)
A lettings agent has been jailed for three years for defrauding tenants and landlords out of more than £182,000. Lee Clarke, 42,...
20 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![Ombudsman complaints led by management, comms and record keeping](/img/default/lat.png)
Lettings once again dominated the complaints received by The Property Ombudsman according to its latest annual report - out today but...
24 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![Have Your Say: Ombudsman wants agents’ views on block management](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors are seeking views of agents, landlords and tenants on a new...
13 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![New call for letting agents to be trained, qualified and licensed](/img/default/lat.png)
The Association of Residential Letting Agents' wing of Propertymark says the recent expulsion of three agents from The Property Ombudsman demonstrates the...
04 May 2021
From: Breaking News
![Yet another agent ejected by Ombudsman may be trading illegally](/img/default/lat.png)
Another lettings agency has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme for failing to pay an outstanding compensation award - but...
16 April 2021
From: Breaking News
![Rogue agency may be trading under new name via Facebook, says Ombudsman](/img/default/lat.png)
A lettings agency that failed to pay a compensation award ordered by The Property Ombudsman has been expelled from the scheme...
15 April 2021
From: Breaking News
![Agency that failed to pay £300 compensation kicked out of Ombudsman](/img/default/lat.png)
A lettings agent in Slough, called Saville Park Ltd, has been excluded from The Property Ombudsman for failing to pay an outstanding award of £300. TPO received a complaint from tenants...
15 April 2021
From: Breaking News
![New property ID system aims to identify rogue buy to lets](/img/default/lat.png)
A new property identification system which has won the backing of ARLA Propertymark and substantial parts of the industry has said...
15 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![Overwhelming number of agents pay TPO compensation awards](/img/default/lat.png)
An overwhelming 98 per cent of agents who are members of The Property Ombudsman scheme pay compensation when an investigation is...
01 December 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agency accused of over-charging and using fake repair accounts](/img/default/lat.png)
A newspaper claims a lettings agency is battling allegations of overcharging customers and using fake companies to carry out maintenance work. The Daily Record...
30 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Another 12 months to make referral fees more transparent](/img/default/lat.png)
Agents have another 12 months to make referral fees more transparent according to an update from the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting...
19 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Expelled! Agents thrown out by Ombudsman over award payments](/img/default/lat.png)
Three agents have been expelled by The Property Ombudsman for failing to pay compensation awards. In the case of Foremost Lettings Ltd...
26 August 2020
From: Breaking News
![Next week’s Ombudsman conference webinar - registration opens](/img/default/lat.png)
Registration is open for The Property Ombudsman’s annual conference, being held as a webinar later this month. The event can be watched...
10 June 2020
From: Breaking News
![Big surge in complaints about letting agents taken up by Ombudsman](/img/default/lat.png)
There’s been a substantial 20 per cent rise in formal complaints about agents taken up by The Property Ombudsman. The figures refer...
11 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![Six lettings agencies expelled from TPO for not paying awards](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman has announced the expulsion of eight agencies, all for contravening TPO codes of practice. Most of the expulsions were...
04 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![Tenant Engagement](/img/default/lat.png)
There is no doubt that the BBC News article in early February caused something of a stir within the Deposit Free...
12 March 2020
From: Sponsored Content
![Agents warned by Ombudsman: Don’t discriminate on DSS claimants](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman is warning agents not to discriminate against tenants through a No DSS or any similar policy. Following the legal...
05 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Referral Fee clampdown confirmed for lettings agents too](/img/default/lat.png)
The clampdown on referral fees, until now concentrated on the sales sector, will extend to letting agents too. James Munro, head of...
28 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![Five agents kicked out of Ombudsman scheme after disputes](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman has expelled five agencies, mostly for failures to honour awards: four of them are lettings operations and one...
21 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![Fees Act confusion could trigger surge in complaints about agents](/img/default/lat.png)
Confusion among renters over the complex Tenant Fees Act could trigger a surge in complaints about agents to redress schemes -...
12 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![BBC asks: Do letting agents mis-sell deposit alternative schemes?](/img/default/lat.png)
A BBC investigation suggests some agents may be mis-selling deposit alternative schemes. Tenants are then hit by what the probe says are...
10 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![Clampdown on lettings agents triggered by MPs’ own experiences - claim](/img/default/lat.png)
A prominent member of the House of Lords has given a surprising insight into how the fiscal and regulatory clampdown on...
30 January 2020
From: Breaking News
![Over 200 complaints of agents allegedly charging illegal fees](/img/default/lat.png)
The Times claims there have been well over 200 complaints lodged with redress schemes, alleging that lettings agents tried to charge...
23 December 2019
From: Breaking News
![Lettings agency boss jailed for £230,000 fraud scandal](/img/default/lat.png)
A Southampton lettings agency owner has been jailed after defrauding landlords and tenants out of £230,000. Andrew Whitehead has been jailed for...
19 December 2019
From: Breaking News
![Three rogue lettings agencies expelled by The Property Ombudsman](/img/default/lat.png)
Three lettings agencies have been expelled from TPO - in each case the agency failed to honour a payment as instructed...
13 December 2019
From: Breaking News
![Fees Ban, Licensing and HMOs: many agents fear they’re breaking the law](/img/default/lat.png)
Just over a fifth of lettings agents questioned in a major industry survey are concerned that may not be complying with...
15 November 2019
From: Breaking News
![Three rogue lettings agents expelled by The Property Ombudsman](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman has expelled three lettings agencies from its scheme because of unpaid awards to landlord clients. The first is Kingsman...
24 October 2019
From: Breaking News
![Rogue agents expelled by TPO for failing to pay compensation awards](/img/default/lat.png)
Two London agencies have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme for failing to honour two compensation awards. The first is Chase...
19 September 2019
From: Breaking News
![Expelled! Six lettings agencies kicked out by Ombudsman](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman has announced a slew of expulsions after six agents failed to comply with redress rules. They failed to abide...
12 August 2019
From: Breaking News
![Government slated by Tory MP and agency chief over Sections 21 and 24](/img/default/lat.png)
The chairman of Hunters estate agency, who is also a Conservative MP, has hit out at the government over its handling...
12 July 2019
From: Breaking News
![Agents can cut complaints by adopting more PropTech, says guru](/img/default/lat.png)
Letting agencies can reduce the number of complaints about the industry and improve their own customer service and relationships by improving...
26 June 2019
From: Breaking News
![Expelled! Seven rogue letting agents kicked out of Ombudsman scheme](/img/default/lat.png)
Seven agencies have been expelled from membership of The Property Ombudsman after failing to pay compensation awards made by TPO. All are...
03 June 2019
From: Breaking News
![Redress scheme makes £25,000 award after “failings” by lettings agent](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Redress Scheme, one of the two government-backed redress operators for the lettings and sales service, has outlined its work...
23 May 2019
From: Breaking News
![Agent fined for having only 'limited' redress cover through TPO](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman has issued a reminder to all agents to ensure they have the correct redress membership to cover the...
23 May 2019
From: Breaking News
![Agents made to pay record sum to consumers in 2018, says Ombudsman](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has released its annual report for 2018, showing that for the first time the value of awards...
08 May 2019
From: Breaking News
![Inventories ‘could be integral part of rental redress reform’ claim](/img/default/lat.png)
Independent inventory reporting is the perfect complement to the government’s proposed housing reforms. That’s the view of the UK’s largest provider of...
08 March 2019
From: Breaking News
![Redress scheme wants landlords to join now 'on a voluntary basis'](/img/default/lat.png)
One of the existing two government-authorised redress schemes governing estate and letting agents has called on landlords to voluntarily join, ahead...
06 February 2019
From: Breaking News
![Agents advertising weekly rent should show traditional ‘pcm’ figure too](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman says agents can display weekly rents for homes they market - but they should be displayed alongside monthly...
29 January 2019
From: Breaking News
![Mystery over missing agent being probed by trading standards](/img/default/lat.png)
Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of a letting agent who appears not to be in any redress scheme, is being investigated by...
14 January 2019
From: Breaking News
![Expelled! Two agencies kicked out of TPO for failing to pay awards](/img/default/lat.png)
Two lettings agencies have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme for failing to pay awards. One is OJ Residentials Limited trading...
05 November 2018
From: Breaking News
![More lettings agencies expelled by TPO for unpaid awards](/img/default/lat.png)
Two more lettings agencies have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman as a result of unpaid awards following disputes involving landlords...
21 September 2018
From: Breaking News
![Agency expelled by TPO after 100 complaints, owing £419k in awards](/img/default/lat.png)
An agency has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman after receiving over 100 separate complaints, and failing to pay over £419,000...
20 September 2018
From: Breaking News
![CPRs; the opportunity](/img/default/lat.png)
In our previous 2 blogs we have covered the definitions of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs) and what...
29 August 2018
From: Sponsored Content
![CPRs; the practicalities](/img/default/lat.png)
In our previous blog, we looked at the definitions outlined by the CPRs. In our next blog we’ll look at the...
29 August 2018
From: Sponsored Content
![Client Money Protection scheme launched by Propertymark](/img/default/lat.png)
Propertymark has launched a new Client Money Protection system, Money Shield, with a support statement from much of the lettings sector...
23 August 2018
From: Breaking News
![Kicked out: two lettings agencies expelled by The Property Ombudsman](/img/default/lat.png)
Two lettings agencies have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme. The first is Bower & Bower (B&B), a sales and lettings...
22 June 2018
From: Breaking News
![Missing letting agent - a Church is amongst those owed money](/img/default/lat.png)
It’s been revealed that a church is amongst those owed thousands of pounds by a letting agent who has gone to...
21 June 2018
From: Breaking News
![Agency closes, boss disappears, and thousands owed to clients](/img/default/lat.png)
A regional newspaper claims that a lettings agency has collapsed, its boss has gone to ground, and thousands of pounds are...
18 June 2018
From: Breaking News
![Call for agents to use PropTech to help clean up their act](/img/default/lat.png)
A leading PropTech entrepreneur has renewed his call for letting agents to use more technology to clean up their act when...
05 June 2018
From: Breaking News
![Getting worse: complaints to TPO about letting agents soar 11%](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman has issued its annual report for 2017 and it makes grim reading for the rental sector - there’s...
17 May 2018
From: Breaking News
![Confirmed - mandatory Client Money Protection for all agents from next April](/img/default/lat.png)
The government has confirmed that all property agents in England will need to be part of an approved Client Money Protection...
04 May 2018
From: Breaking News
![Another redress scheme runs a special offer - this time for agents in NALS](/img/default/lat.png)
The scramble for members amongst rival redress systems continues apace. Earlier this week The Property Ombudsman announced it was to waive joining...
25 April 2018
From: Breaking News
![More industry backing for government's crackdown on agents](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman is the latest property industry player to throw its support behind the introduction of mandatory qualifications and a...
04 April 2018
From: Breaking News
![Property Ombudsman expels lettings agencies over payments issues](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman has released details of two letting agencies expelled over financial issues, and the extension of an expulsion period...
26 March 2018
From: Breaking News
![Veteran agent joins Proptech firm behind lettings scheduling tool](/img/default/lat.png)
The veteran estate agent Michael Stoop has become a non-executive director of Sorbet, a PropTech company which has created a software...
06 February 2018
From: Breaking News
![Agencies expelled from Ombudsman scheme for non-payment of rents](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman scheme has today announced three expulsions of agencies as a result of non-payment of rent or awards. Firstly, a...
10 January 2018
From: Breaking News
![Ombudsman launches latest phase of clampdown on rogue lettings agents](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman scheme has launched the third and latest phase of its national campaign with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute...
14 November 2017
From: Breaking News
![Agency probed by Trading Standards after complaints by tenants](/img/default/lat.png)
A London letting agency with connections to Westminster council is now being investigated by the same council’s trading standards department. CityWest Homes...
16 October 2017
From: Breaking News
![TPO extends rogue letting agency's ban by four years](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman scheme (TPO) has extended its expulsion of a letting agency by an additional four years. Premier Property Management, based...
05 September 2017
From: Breaking News
![TPO expels agency failing to honour compensation to landlord](/img/default/lat.png)
The Property Ombudsman has expelled a London lettings and estate agency after it failed to honour a compensation payment to a...
24 August 2017
From: Breaking News
![Tech firm says agents could reduce complaints - by using more tech](/img/default/lat.png)
A PropTech firm claims more effective use of technology and automation by letting agents could reduce the number of complaints made...
03 August 2017
From: Breaking News
![New referencing product aims to avoid problem highlighted by TPO](/img/default/lat.png)
The software company behind a new product claim it helps agents comply with The Property Ombudsman’s code of practice on referencing...
26 June 2017
From: Breaking News
![TPO makes year's biggest compensation award against letting agent](/img/default/lat.png)
The annual report of The Property Ombudsman, released today, reveals that the largest compensation award of the year has been made...
22 June 2017
From: Breaking News
![TPO expels two letting agencies after complex investigations](/img/default/lat.png)
Two lettings agencies have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman redress scheme. As we reported when the story broke yesterday afternoon, one...
18 May 2017
From: Breaking News
![Two letting agencies expelled from The Property Ombudsman redress scheme](/img/default/lat.png)
Two lettings agencies have this afternoon been expelled from The Property Ombudsman redress scheme. In one case, TPO expelled Lettings Solutions Ltd...