Crestons, the London agent which continued to show Ombudsman and OFT logos on its site for seven months after it was suspended from the Ombudsman scheme, may be re-admitted.
That is because under the Consumer and Estate Agents Redress Act, any agency that sells a property must belong to an official redress scheme.
The Property Ombudsman Scheme has said before that it regrets that its hands are tied in this way.
This week, a TPO spokesman said that if Crestons are re-admitted, it will be for basic membership only.
“They will not be allowed to display the logo, and they will be on a probationary period for two years,” he said.
The Ombudsman reported Crestons to Islington Trading Standards earlier this year after the firm continued to display logos which made it seem it was still a member.
This week, a spokeswoman for Islington Council told EAT it could not comment as there is a ‘live investigation’ continuing.
Comments
Crestons are getting their comeuppance - for too long they've taken advantage of people's good nature. I'd wonder if any contracts sold to people under their pretence of being regulated could be annulled with the money refunded. After all, a lie is a lie.
I did that not long ago myself Henry. I went straight to trading standards. Is there a way of finding out what the outcome was? Trading standards wont tell me. All I know is that the agent suddenly joined the ombudsman after years of non membership.
Over a week since EAT first reported this it is good to see that both Primelocation and Rightmove appear to have removed this business and their listings. Sadly Zoopla continues to carry their details and their properties http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/branch/crestons-london-15563/
If you are a Zoopla customer you might like to ask them why. Will they also carry FSBO listings? A firm who is not signed up to a redress scheme is in breech of the CEAR Act and is operating outside the law and leave the public vulnerable. The vast majority of agents who take the trouble to pay their sub and comply should ensure that any firm who plays fast and loose is cut off at the knees!
Come on Zoopla, sort it out!
Ooh, matron.