The Property Ombudsman has had its Code of Practice for sales agents approved by The Trading Standard Institute (TSI) under their Consumer Code Approval Scheme.
The Consumer Code Approval Scheme replaces the Office of Fair Trading scheme.
Property Ombudsman Christopher Hamer said: “With the OFT’s withdrawal from the code approval process, it is good news that TSI have stepped in to fulfil the important role of rigorous examination and approval for consumer-focused codes.”
He added: “We are in active discussions with TSI to achieve scheme approval for the Lettings Code of Practice.”
TPO is among the first trade bodies to have signed up to the scheme. Others are the British Association of Removers, British Healthcare Trades Association, Debt Managers Standards Association, Institute of Professional Will Writers, Motor Codes, Renewable Energy Assurance, Robert Bosch, The Carpet Foundation and Vehicle Builders Repairers Association.
The Property Ombudsman currently has 11,745 residential sales estate agency branches and 10,391 residential lettings offices subscribed to it.
TPO will be issuing full guidance to individual agents as to the conditions of display of the TSI logo and will be producing new window stickers this month.
See also today’s blog section for a revealing Questions and Answers session with Christopher Hamer.
Comments