Agents – 3 weeks to go – have you changed?
From 6th August (just THREE Weeks), the Ombudsman Services will no longer provide any redress for the public who have a complaint about the actions of a member agent. Any agent signed up to them will have to switch to one of the other two schemes.
The National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team (NTSEAT) is urging any estate agent still signed up with Ombudsman Services to switch to one of the other schemes as soon as possible.
Agents who have not made the switch by 6th August will leave customers unable to access free alternative dispute resolution services, and will be trading illegally.
After 6th August the Ombudsman Services will provide NTSEAT with a list of estate agents who haven’t switched to one of the alternative redress schemes and these agents will be targeted for enforcement action – do not be one of them!
“Estate agents don’t need to leave it to the last minute to switch – contact either the Property Redress Scheme or The Property Ombudsman today to make the arrangements and ensure that you can continue to trade legally after 6th August” says James Munro from the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team.
“Many estate agents have already switched and any agents who do not switch can expect to be targeted for enforcement action by National Trading Standards.”
Contact details for the other approved redress schemes are as follows:
•Property Redress Scheme: www.theprs.co.uk
•The Property Ombudsman: www.tpos.co.uk
The advice therefore is don`t leave it until the last minute and don`t end up being illegal and liable to a potential fine. Contact me if you want further advice or help.