SAFEagent scheme gathers support north of the border

The success of the SAFEagent initiative has now spread north of the border, with leading Scots letting agent CKD Galbraith joining up to the scheme.
 
The launch of SAFEagent follows a number of cases where lettings agents have misappropriated deposits and rents belonging to tenants and landlords.

The easily identifiable logo aims to help the public identify those agents who belong to Client Money Protection schemes via their membership of bodies such as NALS, RICS and ARLA.
 
Shirley Kenyon, lettings manager at CKD Galbraith, said: “We are delighted to be endorsing such an important initiative to help offer peace of mind for landlords and tenants and to ensure the Scottish lettings sector becomes more regulated.

“As a firm our professionals are members of RICS and already offer client money protection.

“However, joining the SAFEagent campaign allows greater awareness for clients to easily identify with ourselves as being a safe lettings agent.”
 
The SAFEagent scheme has been backed by the Government, which is advising private landlords and tenants in new guidance to look for a SAFE agent.

The scheme also has the backing of key organisations such as Shelter, NUS, Trading Standards Institute, Council of Mortgage Lenders, the Residential Landlords Association and the British Property Federation.

ARLA is due to have a meeting next week to decide whether or not to endorse the SAFE scheme.