Letting agents and property managers
Which government approved redress scheme do you belong to?
New legislation has been introduced which means from 1 October 2014 it is a legal requirement for all lettings agents and property managers in England to join one of three government-approved redress schemes.
Whilst the majority of lettings agents and property managers provide a good service there are a minority who offer a poor service and engage in unacceptable practices. This requirement will mean that tenants and landlords with agents in the private rented sector and leaseholders and freeholders dealing with property managers in the residential sector will be able to complain to an independent person about the service thy have received. Ultimately the requirement to belong to a redress scheme will help weed out bad agents and property managers and drive up standards.
South Kesteven District Council can impose a fine of up to £5,000 where an agent or property manager who should have joined a scheme has not done, so please check now!
Government approved schemes:
From 6 August 2018 Ombudsman Services stopped providing a service as part of the redress scheme. Those registered with the Ombudsman Services scheme will not be automatically transferred to either of the other schemes and must join an alternative scheme.
Can you also alter the text on the page as it talks in the wrong tense now, to reads as follows:
Since 1 October 2014 it has been a legal requirement for all lettings agents and property managers in England to join a government-approved redress scheme. Agents must display the name of the scheme they belong to in their offices and on their website.
Whilst the majority of lettings agents and property managers provide a good service there are a minority who offer a poor service and engage in unacceptable practices. This requirement means that tenants and landlords with agents in the private rented sector and leaseholders and freeholders dealing with property managers in the residential sector can complain to an independent person about the service they have received.
Tenants can complain to a scheme about issues such as:
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failure to explain things properly
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avoidable delays
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hidden fees
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rudeness
Complaints about non-return or deductions from a deposit at the end of a tenancy should be referred to the relevant tenancy deposit dispute resolution service instead.
South Kesteven District Council can impose a fine of up to £5,000 where an agent or property manager who should have joined a scheme has not done, so please check now!