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KEYWORD "Trading Standards" - 100 RESULTS
New rental laws under the spotlight as agents hit the road

Propertymark is inviting letting agents to find out more about the latest legislative changes at one of its upcoming regional conferences.   As...

23 August 2024

From: Breaking News

Material Information consultation launches - YOUR views wanted!

Propertymark is today launching a consultation exercise, seeking the views of lettings and sales agents - amongst others - about Material Information...

02 August 2024

From: Breaking News

Lettings agency regulation demanded by PropTech leader

Regulation of lettings and estate agencies must be a priority for the government elected tomorrow, a PropTech entrepreneur demands. Sián Hemming-Metcalfe of...

04 July 2024

From: Breaking News

Material Information - PropTech tool launched to help agents

Reapit has launched a new feature to help agents comply with material information guidelines from the National Trading Standards Estate and...

14 June 2024

From: Breaking News

Get the Rent To Rent house in order, demands Propertymark

Propertymark has come out in support of the National Trading Standards Estate and Lettings Agency Team’s probe into Rent-to-Rent.    NTSELAT has...

17 May 2024

From: Breaking News

Want to save 25 minutes per transaction? PropTech link-up claims you can...

The Property Franchise Group is to roll out a partnership with PropTech firm Coadjute TPFG, the largest franchise estate agency group in...

17 May 2024

From: Breaking News

Guilty! - Fraudster letting agents duped landlords and tenants

Two London agents who traded fraudulently through their lettings business and scammed victims out of over £24,000 have been sentenced. After a...

13 May 2024

From: Breaking News

Half of Tenants 'get stuck' if letting agents fail to solve problems

Half of all private renters would not know where to turn to if a letting agent failed to address a problem...

30 April 2024

From: Breaking News

Agents Tell Politicians - Stop Arguing and Repair Private Renting

Political parties should stop bickering and instead work together to improve the private rental sector. That’s the view of the Lettings industry...

17 April 2024

From: Breaking News

Trading Standards tells agents - Material Information is key so get on with it!

A representative of the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agents team has told agents to accept new rules about material...

11 April 2024

From: Breaking News

Agents tell Land Registry to be more accessible (and cheaper)

Propertymark wants HM Land Registry to provide more accessible and affordable services to its members.  HMLR launched a consultation last month as...

10 April 2024

From: Breaking News

Agents warned: Don’t be Left Behind when Regulation Comes In

Propertymark is urging agents to get ahead of the curve and be ready for the next big initiative - Regulation.  Propertymark has...

02 April 2024

From: Breaking News

Expelled! Agency kicked out by Ombudsman for just £1,100

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

Material Information - new digital tool aims to help letting agents

The Open Property Data Association has released a new version of its property data standards framework to help letting agents comply...

25 March 2024

From: Breaking News

Gove accused of dragging his feet over agent regulation

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

Heating Private Rental Properties - council claims EPC success

The number of private tenants in properties that are hard to heat has fallen, a council claims. As agents will know private...

06 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Propertymark’s ringing endorsement for Material Information changes

Propertymark’s property auction division - NAVA - has given ringing endorsement to the Material Information changes demanded under new Trading Standards...

05 February 2024

From: Breaking News

Labour’s backdoor bid to regulate lettings and estate agents at last

Labour is using a Bill currently going through Parliament as a backdoor method to introduce the regulation of lettings, estate and...

19 January 2024

From: Breaking News

Trading Standards giving agents free teach-in on Material Information

Propertymark is hosting an Understanding Material Information for Lettings Agents on Thursday January 18 from 1230 to 1400. The National Trading Standards...

16 January 2024

From: Breaking News

How investing in a CRM is the best way to NTS compliance

I think we can all agree that the National Trading Standards Material Information reforms are a good thing for the property...

06 December 2023

From: Sponsored Content

Propertymark details 2024 #morefor24  regional programme

Propertymark has outlined an extensive regional programme for next year. It’s going to hold 19 regional events under the #morefor24 campaign slogan. The...

04 December 2023

From: Breaking News

Trading Standards reveal details of new Material Information requirements

Parts B and C of the process to improve material information disclosure in property listings are published today within comprehensive new guidance...

30 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Trading Standards links with Rightmove for CPR training for agents

Rightmove has teamed up with the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team to create a new course on compliance...

24 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Letting agents back enhanced Material Information requirements

An overwhelming number of letting and sales agents back the idea of more so-called Material Information on property details.  That’s according to...

06 November 2023

From: Breaking News

Client money accounting made easy with PayProp

A client account is essential to your lettings business, but the rules and regulations you need to follow to keep this...

26 October 2023

From: Sponsored Content

Scams expert joins board of The Property Ombudsman

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

Many councils enforcing rental regulations face ‘effective bankruptcy’

A survey of local authorities in some of the poorest areas of the country - bodies which enforce many private rental...

06 September 2023

From: Breaking News

Agents welcome Trading Standards “clarity” on lettings terminology

Propertymark has welcomed what it calls the “clarity” given to advertising terminology following the publication of new guidelines from the National...

17 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Agent Alert - Trading Standards new guidance on To Let wording

The National Trading Standards Estate and Lettings Agency Team has issued new guidance on terminology used in property advertising - particularly lettings. The...

16 August 2023

From: Breaking News

Rogue agency expelled from Ombudsman but still trading illegally

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

Agency and council work together on unlikely safety campaign

After numerous stories of councils and letting agencies at each others’ throats over To Let boards, Trading Standards and other controversies,...

12 July 2023

From: Breaking News

Six agencies fined thousands for not protecting client money

Six letting agencies across the London borough of Haringey have been fined a total of £12,000 after a council clampdown. Trading Standards...

21 June 2023

From: Breaking News

Banned! Fraudster lettings agent jailed and cannot be a director

Trading Standards has stopped a lettings agency owner from being a company director after he defrauded customers by over £80,000. Francis Smart,...

19 June 2023

From: Breaking News

String of dodgy letting agents expelled by Ombudsman

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

Trading Standards warning after big fine imposed on agency

Trading Standards is reminding letting agents of their legal obligation to protect money they are holding on behalf of a client...

10 March 2023

From: Breaking News

Are Trading Standards officers checking your agency’s website?

Trading Standards officers check for agents’ compliance by scrutinising their websites, it’s being claimed. Agents are being warned to ensure their websites...

20 February 2023

From: Breaking News

Agents Warned: hefty fines if firms found to be non-compliant

A PropTech expert is warning that letting agents can expect hefty fines if they fail to comply with complex Client Money...

16 February 2023

From: Breaking News

Lettings in the spotlight as current and future regulations hit the headlines

We’re only in February and it’s already clear that this year will set the future direction of the private rented sector...

15 February 2023

From: Features

Six agencies expelled by The Property Ombudsman

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

Auditors to visit branches in person to assess agency compliance

Propertymark auditors are offering in-person visits to branches to improve their compliance.  The trade body says this is in response to demand from...

20 December 2022

From: Breaking News

Banks are closing their doors to Letting Agents

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

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

Agent Alert - City Trading Standards team begins clampdown

A council’s Trading Standards team is warning letting agents of a new clampdown on compliance failures. Stoke-on-Trent Trading Standards says it’s received...

09 November 2022

From: Breaking News

Material Information - utility data can help agents meet Trading Standards call

Utility technology platform Muuvo says the information it accesses can help agents meet the enhanced ‘material information’ requirements which Trading Standards...

03 November 2022

From: Breaking News

“Landmark” CMP ruling sees huge fine for lettings agency

Trading Standards is describing a penalty imposed on a London letting agent as “a landmark” after the company failed to comply...

02 November 2022

From: Breaking News

Civil servants and Trading Standards to brief agents on law change

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

Rental reform is the big debate at agents’ annual conference

The details of the Northern Ireland Private Tenancies Bill will be the main focus of the Propertymark annual conference in Belfast...

05 October 2022

From: Breaking News

Call for more due diligence after rogue letting agent jailed

Trading Standards is calling for more due diligence checks to be made following the jailing of a rogue letting agent for...

31 August 2022

From: Breaking News

Jailed! Another 34 months for agent already guilty of assault

A former lettings agent has been jailed for almost three years after admitting conning landlords out of over £80,000. The sentence for...

30 August 2022

From: Breaking News

Guilty letting agent who stole deposits now awaits sentence

A letting agent who stole over £80,000 from landlords is awaiting sentence. Frank Smart - owner of Smart Residential Letting Agents in...

15 August 2022

From: Breaking News

Consumers urged to report non-compliant agents to Citizens Advice

A county council is urging people to complain if they believe letting agents are failing to comply with consumer legislation. Staffordshire county...

11 August 2022

From: Breaking News

Warning To Agents - compliance crackdown starting shortly

Fourteen Trading Standards authorities across a swathe of England are embarking on an enforcement project to check lettings agency compliance.  The Central England...

15 July 2022

From: Breaking News

Lion’s Den! Rent control advocate to speak at letting agents’ conference

The politician who is arguably the country’s most powerful advocate of rent controls is to address a Propertymark conference. Patrick Harvie, Scotland’s...

14 July 2022

From: Breaking News

Agents Alert - prepare additional info for property details now

Propertymark is alerting agents to ensure they meet and if needs be exceed the requirements for ‘material information’ on up-front property...

14 July 2022

From: Breaking News

Beefed Up Property Details - industry bosses back call for Material Information

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

Trading Standards issue new guidelines for property details

The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team has published fresh guidance to help letting agents meet new requirements regarding...

12 July 2022

From: Breaking News

Property Listing changes explained in agent webinar next week

The new material information requirements recently announced by the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team will be the topic...

06 May 2022

From: Breaking News

‘Price on application’ in property listings deemed unlawful

The small number of rental properties listed on websites and portals as Price on Application have now been deemed illegal by...

05 May 2022

From: Breaking News

Agents must be more transparent to staff and customers - call

A prominent industry supplier says lettings agents must be increasingly transparent on the services they provide - not just to landlords...

03 May 2022

From: Breaking News

Rent Controls threat under discussion at Rightmove event

Rightmove’s April webinars for agents continue today with Daryl Mcintosh, Policy Manager at Propertymark, giving a legal and compliance update for...

06 April 2022

From: Breaking News

Using more data makes huge improvements to lettings process - claim

Huge improvements could be made to the lettings process if agents used the property data available to them, it’s been claimed. PropTech...

30 March 2022

From: Breaking News

Agents should get fewer time-wasters if property details improve

The UK Association of Letting Agents says new requirements for additional upfront property information should end up actually saving agents time. By...

22 March 2022

From: Breaking News

More industry regulation needed - but not if it alienates agents

A leading figure in the PropTech sector says more regulation could make the rental sector fairer, more transparent and ultimately more...

25 February 2022

From: Breaking News

New Listings Requirements - lettings supremo welcomes compulsory changes

Theresa Wallace, the chair of The Lettings Industry Council, has given her backing to compulsory changes to rental property listings introduced...

22 February 2022

From: Breaking News

Agents Beware - compulsory new info on lettings listings coming soon

Trading Standards and the government have jointly announced compulsory new data which must appear on property listings. A property's council tax band or...

21 February 2022

From: Breaking News

Agents hit back at politicians over rent controls

Propertymark has hit back at the latest demand by politicians for rent controls. The London mayor Sadiq Khan renewed his call for...

21 February 2022

From: Breaking News

Trading Standards to stage unannounced letting agency visits

A Trading Standards team is to carry out what it calls “unannounced inspections” of lettings agencies in one part of London...

13 January 2022

From: Breaking News

Agents may shun landlords with poor compliance record - claim

Self-managing landlords who think they don’t have the same compliance obligations as agents could face serious repercussions, Trading Standards chiefs have...

31 December 2021

From: Breaking News

Agency pays thousands for breaching Tenant Fees Act

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

How can letting agents improve their reputation?

How can agents improve their position in society? A report has been published following a roundtable discussion between prominent agency figures...

14 December 2021

From: Breaking News

Agent Alert - fake firm posing as legitimate lettings agency

A fake lettings operation has been uncovered by a leading legitimate agency - and now the National Trading Standards Estate and...

06 December 2021

From: Breaking News

Agency given penalty notices for operating illegally

A letting agency has been issued with penalty notices worth £3,000 for operating illegally. Back in 2014 it became a legal requirement...

03 December 2021

From: Breaking News

Rogue agents in firing line as councils get enforcement kit

Effective enforcement is crucial to stamp out rogue lettings agents and protect consumers says safeagent. In the latest edition of its Effective...

30 November 2021

From: Breaking News

Last chance to register – webinar on transparency in lettings tomorrow 

The live launch of a roundtable event hosted by rental payments platform PayProp takes place tomorrow – and letting agents can...

08 November 2021

From: Breaking News

Webinar – how can letting agents be compliant with Trading Standards rules?

A recent industry roundtable event hosted by PayProp, which brought together some of the lettings industry’s biggest hitters, will be live streamed next week...

05 November 2021

From: Breaking News

Expelled! Rogue letting agents kicked out by The Property Ombudsman

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

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

Charging for Viewings is “terrible idea” says leading agent

A prominent lettings agency owner has given his verdict on the concept of charging renters to view a property - “it...

20 August 2021

From: Breaking News

Charging for Viewings? Trading Standards revises advice

The controversy over whether a new PropTech service can be used by agents to charge people to view a property to...

19 August 2021

From: Breaking News

Tenant Fees Act “does not ban charging for some viewings”

Guidance from Trading Standards suggests that it is possible, in some cases, to charge tenants to view a property to let...

10 August 2021

From: Breaking News

Trading Standards clampdown on rogue letting agents

A local Trading Standards team is clamping down on rogue letting agents. Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service has launched...

23 June 2021

From: Breaking News

Tenant Fees: only small number of First Tier Tribunal cases in two years

There have been just 17 First Tier Tribunal cases involving allegations of fees charged to tenants in contravention of the Tenants...

17 June 2021

From: Breaking News

Agents urged to beware council compliance crackdown and heavy fines

Agents are being warned about a crackdown on compliance issues surrounding rental property management. No Letting Go, the country’s largest provider of...

07 May 2021

From: Breaking News

Letting agents back idea of renters getting more upfront info

The two letting agents’ trade groups have backed a call for more upfront information to be given to prospective renters. The National...

21 April 2021

From: Breaking News

Client Money Protection bank deadline nears, agents warned

Letting agents have only 10 days to open segregated client accounts or they could face being expelled by their client money...

22 March 2021

From: Breaking News

Big fine for London agency without Client Money Protection

A lettings agency in central London has been issued with a fine for not belonging to a Client Money Protection scheme. The...

17 March 2021

From: Breaking News

Investigation underway into collapse of agency £1.3m in debt

An investigation is underway into a lettings agency which has gone into liquidation owing almost £500,000 in rent to landlords and in...

15 March 2021

From: Breaking News

Clampdown on letting agents backed by local councils

A huge trading standards operation clamping down on lettings agents who fail to abide by Client Money Protection rules has been...

25 February 2021

From: Breaking News

Huge crackdown on letting agents failing to honour CMP laws

A clampdown on letting agents who fail to safeguard landlords’ and tenants’ money is now underway.  A statement from the National Trading Standards...

24 February 2021

From: Breaking News

Trading Standards urges agents to watch out for scams

The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agents Team is appealing to the industry to be eagle-eyed for scams. This follows the...

22 February 2021

From: Breaking News

Letting agent “illegally working” without redress scheme membership

The Daily Mail says it has informed Trading Standards of a lettings agent which is claims is “illegally working” despite not...

17 February 2021

From: Breaking News

Agents’ group recommends referral fee policy of transparency

The UK Association of Lettings Agents is recommending transparency in relation to the disclosure of referral fees to landlord clients. Last month...

09 December 2020

From: Breaking News

Trading Standards warning letter over letting agent fees

A warning about illegal fees by letting agents has been produced by a local council Trading Standards team.  It has come from...

04 December 2020

From: Breaking News

Over 10 agencies a week closing down, claims protection scheme

One of the government’s approved client money protection schemes claims over 10 lettings agencies a week are closing. Client Money Protect makes the...

03 December 2020

From: Breaking News

Overwhelming number of agents pay TPO compensation awards

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

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

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

Referral fees webinar coming up with Trading Standards supremo

Propertymark is staging a webinar later this month on the topical subject of referral fees. Last month the National Trading Standards for...

06 November 2020

From: Breaking News

£100,000 compensation to be paid by rogue lettings agents

Three lettings agents who kept tenants’ rent instead of passing it to the landlords have been ordered to pay almost £100,000...

30 October 2020

From: Breaking News

Stand by for referral fee restrictions, letting agents warned

Agents are being warned to prepare now for likely controls on referral fees, following recommendations made to the government by the...

27 October 2020

From: Breaking News

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