LSL Property Services has appointed Michael Stoop to its board as a non-executive director. He brings significant experience in estate agency and...
Archive
![Record numbers raise concerns about agents but official sales complaints drop](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/AgentsWorking-400x310.png)
Concerns around market appraisals and how offers are handled are likely to be the key industry complaints this year amid lower...
10 June 2024
From: Breaking News
![Lord Best: ROPA reforms won't break the bank for agents](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/2_MortgageCalculated.png)
Further estate agency regulation won’t be too expensive for the industry, Lord Best has said. Lord Best, who led the Regulation of...
25 March 2024
From: Breaking News
![Material information raises professional indemnity risks - warning](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews3-400x310.png)
The increased focus on upfront material information could push up estate agency professional indemnity (PI) requirements, an industry trainer has warned. Michael...
19 March 2024
From: Breaking News
![‘Legal liability’ concerns raised over Propertymark questionnaire](/upload/images/shutterstock_563219308.jpg)
The Law Society is exploring concerns that Propertymark's Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) puts agents at risk of legal issues, Estate Agent...
13 March 2024
From: Breaking News
![The Property Ombudsman: ‘Multiple redress schemes cause consumer confusion’](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/BusinessTeam-400x310.png)
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has questioned if allowing agents to choose their own redress scheme damages consumer trust. Speaking to the House...
06 March 2024
From: Breaking News
![House of Lords committee set to consider agency regulation](/upload/images/shutterstock_2259427737.jpg)
The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has set out the key questions it could ask agency representatives as its...
05 March 2024
From: Breaking News
![Agency groups to discuss industry regulation in House of Lords](/upload/images/shutterstock_1906337941(1).jpg)
Representatives from Propertymark, Trading Standards and The Property Ombudsman (TPO) are set to discuss estate agency regulation in the House of...
01 March 2024
From: Breaking News
![TPO expels two property firms](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/Upfront%20information%20is%20here%20and%20now%20-%20digital%20conveyancing%20is%20next!%20by%20Beth%20Rudolf.png)
Two London firms have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) for failing to pay compensation to consumers. This brings the total...
14 December 2023
From: Breaking News
![Housing Ombudsmen - our industry's new growth area](/upload/images/02%20shutterstock_1993087799.jpg)
It may be a measure of the government’s incompetence in the area of housing that two recent major announcements were sorely...
02 December 2023
From: Features
![New compliance product aims to spot regulatory gaps for agents](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/BusinessTeam-400x310.png)
Compliancy expert Legal Eye has launched a new product to help agents ensure they are properly following all rules and regulations. Its...
19 September 2023
From: Breaking News
![The Property Ombudsman bolsters board](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews3-400x310.png)
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has welcomed two new non-executive directors to its independent board. Louise Baxter, head of the National Trading Standards...
13 September 2023
From: Breaking News
![TPO: Agents must be wary of appraisal and offer complaints](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyStats-400x310.png)
Estate agents have been urged to be wary of complaints around market appraisals and the handling of offers. The latest annual review...
03 August 2023
From: Breaking News
![Agent expelled from redress scheme after buyer complaint](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews3-400x310.png)
Just one agent was expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) redress scheme in the latest quarter. TPO has revealed that Price Point...
27 June 2023
From: Breaking News
![Is your letting business still compliant?](/upload/images/__thumbs/Is%20your%20business%20still%20compliant.jpg/Is%20your%20business%20still%20compliant__400x267.jpg)
Following publication of the Renter’s Reform Bill and the media coverage surrounding it, many agents and their landlords will understandably have...
27 May 2023
From: Features
![TPO: More clarity needed on agency agreements](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews2-400x310.png)
Agents are being urged to be clearer about their terms of business with clients after the public face of The Property...
15 May 2023
From: Breaking News
![Revealed – what estate agents need to know to succeed at compliance in 2023](/upload/images/Emma%20Burdis%2C%20Head%20of%20Compliance%20at%20iamproperty.jpg)
The dreaded ‘C word’ – compliance – has been facing Estate Agents for years now and it’s not going anywhere. Looking ahead...
15 April 2023
From: Features
![Doorsteps among collapsed agents ejected from redress scheme](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/PropertyNews1-400x310.png)
Eight agents were excluded from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme during the first quarter of 2023 including collapsed online brand Doorsteps for...
06 April 2023
From: Breaking News
![Compliance expert: Agency complaints are inevitable](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Property%20Market/UKHomesTraditional-400x310.png)
High transaction volumes are likely to lead to more complaints about agents, a compliance expert claims. Paul Offley, compliance officer at The Guild...
18 November 2022
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter - day in the life of a NTSELAT policy manager](/upload/images/Site%20logos/PropertyNatter-2019-400x310.png)
Given their leading role in the recent upfront information revolution, interest in the work of the National Trading Standards Estate &...
05 November 2022
From: Features
![Agency sales complaints rise as issues become more complex - TPO](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/Rental%20Market/Fine-2-400x310.png)
Increasing numbers of complaints about agents are being resolved without formal investigation but issues are becoming more complex, The Property Ombudsman...
02 November 2022
From: Breaking News
![Problems setting up a client account? Here's what to do](/upload/images/Shutterstock-only%20images/PropTech/PropTech2-400x310.png)
Over the last few months, The Letting Partnership has seen an increase in calls from agents who are struggling to open...
22 October 2022
From: Features
![Property sourcing agents encouraged to become TPO members](/upload/images/Logos/ThePropertyOmbudsman-logo400x310.png)
The National Association of Professional Sourcing Agents (NAPSA) has partnered with The Property Ombudsman (TPO) to boost compliance and working practices in...
04 October 2022
From: Breaking News
![Revealed! How much agents earn from sales compared with lettings](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/Calculator-PoundCoins-2019-400x310.jpg)
Sales remain the predominant source of income for most estate agency brands, research claims. The analysis warns that agents shouldn’t ignore lettings...
27 May 2022
From: Breaking News
![New material information rules will benefit consumers and agents](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/PropertyInformationKeys-400x310.jpg)
Millions of people use online property portals every year to conduct their property search, whether it be for sales or for...
11 May 2022
From: Features
![New Deputy for TPO as industry gears up for change](/upload/images/Logos/ThePropertyOmbudsman-logo400x310.png)
A new Deputy Ombudsman, Lesley Horton, has been appointed by The Property Ombudsman Scheme. She will work alongside Property Ombudsman, Rebecca Marsh,...
21 April 2022
From: Breaking News
![Essex online agent expelled from TPO scheme](/upload/images/library/UniversityOfEssex-400x310.png)
It was a quiet first quarter this year for sanctions at The Property Ombudsman (TPO). The redress scheme has revealed that just...
08 April 2022
From: Breaking News
![Advertising watchdog open to considering SSTC listing complaints](/upload/images/library/complaints-400x310.png)
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has said it may consider complaints about ‘misleading SSTC listings’ on portals but suggests it may...
06 April 2022
From: Breaking News
![Phil Spencer: Time for agents to grab the gavel as market slows](/upload/images/Site%20logos/PhilSpencer-MoveIQ-EATLAT-400x310.jpg)
The market’s likely to slow this year as the rising cost of living saps some buyer confidence, so agents are understandably...
04 March 2022
From: Breaking News
![Reform of properties listings welcomed by industry leaders](/upload/images/library/OnlinePropertySearch-400x310.jpg)
Industry figures have come out in favour of the long-term programme of new compulsory information to be contained on property listings. From...
22 February 2022
From: Breaking News
![Exclusivity Agreements? They’re for “shysters” claims lawyer](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/HousingMarket2020-400x310.jpg)
The Property Ombudsman should ban agents from using so-called exclusivity agreements on sales, claims a law firm. Donal Blaney, founder of Griffin...
03 February 2022
From: Breaking News
![Trading Standards want public to quiz agents on referral fees](/upload/images/library/Referrals-400x310.png)
The most senior Trading Standards officer policing the agency industry says he hopes the public will ask about referral fees in...
31 January 2022
From: Breaking News
![Property Fraud - Agents have key role to deter crime](/upload/images/Miscellaneous/scam%20alert.png)
An hour-long webinar this week aims to inform agents how to deter property fraud by greater emphasis on compliance, due diligence...
25 January 2022
From: Breaking News
![Exclusive: Setback for house buying reform as top expert moves job](/upload/images/Politics%20(MPs%2C%20party%20logos%2C%20etc)/HousesofParliament-3-400x310.jpg)
Estate Agent Today understands that the civil servant who has been at the heart of plans to reform the house buying...
13 January 2022
From: Breaking News
![Conveyancing IT crash exposes weaknesses in transaction process](/upload/images/PropTech%20%26%20Online/Digital-Online-400x310.jpg)
EAT readers may have seen a piece in Friday’s property section of The Times about the long-running Simplify saga, which has...
13 December 2021
From: Breaking News
![Rental Sector Enforcement - time to pull our fingers out](/upload/images/Rental%20Market/RentalMarketImage-1-400x310.jpg)
Within weeks the focus of the industry will be on the White Paper to be issued on rental reform before Christmas. Let’s...
16 October 2021
From: Features
![Agents urged to conduct extra legal checks on buyers](/upload/images/Logos/Guild-Logo-400x310.jpg)
Agents are being advised to go above and beyond the legal requirements for anti-money laundering requirements. Paul Offley, compliance officer for The...
13 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![360° virtual tours require GDPR and CPR compliance](/upload/images/library/VirtualViewing-CoreLogic-400x310.jpg)
As virtual tours start to get even more popular, and in some cases become the norm for the majority of letting...
18 September 2021
From: Features
![Phil Spencer - Why agents MUST get their communications right](/upload/images/Site%20logos/PhilSpencer-EAT-LAT-2020-400x310.jpg)
Day in, day out, I see how good estate agents really are. Whether it’s in my day job on Location, Location, Location...
06 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![Complaints about estate agents jump by a third says Ombudsman](/upload/images/Logos/ThePropertyOmbudsman-logo400x310.png)
The Property Ombudsman says there’s been a big increase in enquiries to its service in recent months, despite the pandemic. In its...
24 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![Seven rogue sales and lettings agencies expelled by Ombudsman](/img/default/eat.png)
No fewer than seven estate and lettings agencies have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme today. Most of them are now...
30 June 2021
From: Breaking News
![Digital onboarding service launches with 900 agency branches](/img/default/eat.png)
Movebutler, the digital onboarding platform from online auction specialist iamproperty, says it has some 900 agency branches signed up. These include Martin...
28 May 2021
From: Breaking News
![New guidance to agents over Dual Fees and vendor dis-instruction](/img/default/eat.png)
Agents are being advised on what course of action they should take to safeguard their right to fees should they be dis-instructed...
29 April 2021
From: Breaking News
![State of the property nation survey – what did we discover?](/img/default/eat.png)
Our recent state of the property nation survey, which yielded nearly 350 responses from directors to junior negotiators, and many others...
14 April 2021
From: Breaking News
![Have tenants in arrears? You need to be aware of this new law](/img/default/eat.png)
From 4 May 2021, your agency could be blocked from charging late fees, compounding interest on missing rent and taking any...
20 March 2021
From: Features
![Photo-refreshing property listings attracts big rise in traffic](/img/default/eat.png)
Automatically changing the main marketing photo on a portal listing can attract up to 40 per cent more traffic, it has...
09 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![How to ensure your letting business remains compliant](/img/default/eat.png)
Being a letting agent today means keeping up to date with the long list of rules and regulations governing how a...
20 February 2021
From: Features
![Beware: Scams galore in Quick Buy property sector - claim](/img/default/eat.png)
Scams are rife in the quick house buying sector with many companies seeking to take advantage of sellers in desperate situations. That’s...
09 February 2021
From: Breaking News
![Countrywide and Foxtons back new scheme to speed conveyancing](/img/default/eat.png)
Countrywide and Foxtons have thrown their weight behind an idea to identify every single UK residential property with a unique number. The...
13 January 2021
From: Breaking News
![Banking barriers for start-ups and how to overcome them](/img/default/eat.png)
Start-up letting agents looking to enter the market are finding it increasingly difficult to set up in business as banks point...
19 December 2020
From: Features
![More complaints to Ombudsman this year, despite market closure](/img/default/eat.png)
The Property Ombudsman says there have been more complaints lodged about agents so far in 2020 than in 2019. This is despite...
15 December 2020
From: Breaking News
![Exclusive - Agents' training and licensing latest from the chair of RoPA](/img/default/eat.png)
First off, hello and welcome to this new series – appearing in Estate Agent Today’s Breaking News section each month –...
10 December 2020
From: Breaking News
![New industry regulator could use versions of TPO codes of practice](/img/default/eat.png)
The industry regulator who comes into force when the Regulation of Property Agents’ recommendations are adopted may take over versions of...
04 December 2020
From: Breaking News
![Referral Fees - agents should disclose them up-front insists Ombudsman](/img/default/eat.png)
The Property Ombudsman has joined calls for greater disclosure of referral fees by agents. The issue has become a hot topic in...
30 November 2020
From: Breaking News
![Mandatory qualifications for agents “within two or three years”](/img/default/eat.png)
The mandatory qualifications expected of agents have not been forgotten and will come into effect in two or three years. That’s the...
29 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![Regulation of Property Agents - update for industry expected today](/img/default/eat.png)
A progress report on the Regulation of Property Agents recommendations will be made today by a key RoPA committee member, Mark...
28 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents MUST disclose referral fees, Trading Standards tells government](/img/default/eat.png)
Customers must be told about third party referral fees when buying or selling a home says the National Trading Standards Estate...
02 October 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents, conveyancers and movers pledge greater sales transparency](/img/default/eat.png)
The cross-sector group looking at reforming the sales process has agreed a new pledge which it says introduces greater transparency for...
25 September 2020
From: Breaking News
![Autumn 2020 - seven things to watch](/img/default/eat.png)
It’s no surprise the mainstream news remains dominated by coronavirus - not so much the actual effect of it right now,...
05 September 2020
From: Features
![Property Natter - perception vs reality - why do agents have a bad rep?](/img/default/eat.png)
It’s fair to say that UK estate agents don’t have the best of reputations, often featuring in the lists of the...
29 August 2020
From: Features
![Agent expelled by Ombudsman for failing to pay award to seller](/img/default/eat.png)
An agency that has now closed down has been expelled by The Property Ombudsman for failing to pay an award of...
26 August 2020
From: Breaking News
![PropTech firm swipes at Purplebricks over property measurements](/img/default/eat.png)
A PropTech firm that regularly claims London homes are mis-measured in property descriptions has taken a swipe at Purplebricks. Pupil, a spatial...
05 August 2020
From: Breaking News
![Code of Practice marks welcome progress for RoPA recommendations](/img/default/eat.png)
Earlier this month, it was revealed that property industry bodies have joined a new Code of Practice Steering Group to enact...
25 July 2020
From: Features
![“Busy Bodies!” - agent slams industry leaders writing code of conduct](/img/default/eat.png)
The new code of conduct for estate agents has been dismissed as “a waste of time” - and the senior industry...
21 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter – who are the industry’s major trade bodies?](/img/default/eat.png)
They are the names we hear about often, pushing for this or seeking clarifications on that. They are the representatives of...
04 July 2020
From: Features
![Code of Practice for Estate Agents set to change industry forever](/img/default/eat.png)
A new estate agency Code of Practice is to be written by a group set up by the Royal Institution of Chartered...
01 July 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agency regulation: still no government action, one year on](/img/default/eat.png)
The recommendations to regulate and train the estate agency industry put forward a year ago remain on the Housing Secretary’s desk...
30 June 2020
From: Breaking News
!['No DSS' lawsuits - what do letting agents need to know?](/img/default/eat.png)
Over the last few years, there have been a number of high-profile court cases in which renters took action against letting...
30 May 2020
From: Features
![All Change! Agents should reform ‘before government intervenes’](/img/default/eat.png)
The industry should continue to prepare for large-scale reforms such as mandatory agency training, the licensing of agents and a new...
21 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![Poor communication the biggest cause of Ombudsman complaints](/img/default/eat.png)
There’s been a substantial 20 per cent rise in formal complaints about agents taken up by The Property Ombudsman. The figures refer...
11 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![Expelled! Agents kicked out by Ombudsman for not paying awards](/img/default/eat.png)
The Property Ombudsman has announced the expulsion of eight agencies, all for contravening TPO codes of practice. Most of the expulsions were...
04 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![Virtual Viewings Warning - agents should keep copies in case of dispute](/img/default/eat.png)
The Property Ombudsman is advising agents to use virtual viewings only as a filtering process with offers being agreed only ‘subject...
01 May 2020
From: Breaking News
![40 to 50 calls a day still coming in to The Property Ombudsman](/img/default/eat.png)
The Property Ombudsman’s office is still receiving 40 to 50 calls a day from the public, even though most transactions with...
23 April 2020
From: Breaking News
![Change - The key to unlocking demand after the lockdown](/img/default/eat.png)
If it’s really the case that estate agents’ offices could be in the category of High Street premises first allowed to...
18 April 2020
From: Features
![Hair today, gone tomorrow - close shave in a good cause for a familiar face](/img/default/eat.png)
To many less fortunate on the follicle front, high profile industry supplier Ed Mead has enjoyed an infuriatingly good head of...
15 April 2020
From: Breaking News
![Scam and Fraud Alert: Sellers urged to check authenticity of ‘buyers’](/img/default/eat.png)
Sellers are being warned to make strict checks before responding to advertisements apparently from prospective buyers. The National Association of Property Buyers...
14 April 2020
From: Breaking News
![Property Ombudsman conference is latest casualty of Coronavirus](/img/default/eat.png)
The Property Ombudsman has announced that it will postpone its annual conference, which was to have been on June 18, until...
20 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Tenant Engagement](/img/default/eat.png)
There is no doubt that the BBC News article in early February caused something of a stir within the Deposit Free...
12 March 2020
From: Sponsored Content
![Agent training to include Modern Method of Auction compliance](/img/default/eat.png)
Training operator The Able Agent is to include a module on the Modern Method of Auction in its future programme. Charlotte Jeffry-Campbell,...
12 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agent Qualifications: ‘Get On With It’ says architect of reform](/img/default/eat.png)
The author of dramatic reform proposals for estate agents has given a clear message to ministers - Get On With It! Lord...
09 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Phil Spencer: Communication is king – how can agents wear the crown?](/img/default/eat.png)
Agents are consistently being told that they need to get on board with change. And one could quite easily make the...
02 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Transaction times slashed and fall-throughs cut by new agents toolkit](/img/default/eat.png)
The National Association of Estate Agents has launched its Sales Protocol Toolkit, in a bid to reduce fall-throughs and dramatically improve...
28 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![Seven days left for agents to defend referral fees to Trading Standards](/img/default/eat.png)
Agents now have only seven days to complete a referral fees survey, announced late on Friday by Trading Standards and The...
10 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![Urgent Referral Fees survey of agents launched by Trading Standards](/img/default/eat.png)
The National Trading Standards Estate & Letting Agency Team and The Property Ombudsman have launched an urgent survey to assess awareness...
07 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![Agents Beware: Mandatory disclosure of referral fees still a possibility](/img/default/eat.png)
It is possible that agents and their business partners in the conveyancing, mortgage and survey industries could be obliged to have...
29 January 2020
From: Breaking News
![Every agent must pass qualification exams in ‘new era’](/img/default/eat.png)
Some older estate agents may end up retiring when mandatory examinations and qualifications are introduced as there will be no ‘free...
28 January 2020
From: Breaking News
![Future of referral fees may be revealed at upcoming conference](/img/default/eat.png)
The annual conference of the National Association of Estate Agents takes place on February 27 - the date when the future...
21 January 2020
From: Breaking News
![The Property Ombudsman to quit role in November](/img/default/eat.png)
The Property Ombudsman role is being advertised. The current Ombudsman, Katrine Sporle, is giving up the role in November after five years in...
13 January 2020
From: Breaking News
![Searches: consumer chief and Propertymark leader join trade body](/img/default/eat.png)
The Council of Property Search Organisations has named three industry figures as members of its newly-formed compliance committee, set to regulate...
16 December 2019
From: Breaking News
![One of UK’s top agents joins ‘self employed’ hybrid agency](/img/default/eat.png)
Mark Bentley, the immediate past president of the National Association of Estate Agents, has become the highest profile agent yet to...
11 November 2019
From: Breaking News
![TPO increases fees - and agents who generate most complaints pay more](/img/default/eat.png)
The Property Ombudsman scheme is increasing its fees in January for the first time in six years - and it’s implementing...
11 November 2019
From: Breaking News
![Huge shake-up of sellers’ information being considered](/img/default/eat.png)
First details have emerged of the information vendors may have to provide up-front In future transactions if government house buying reforms...
21 October 2019
From: Breaking News
![Industry bodies back Modern Method of Auction best practice guide](/img/default/eat.png)
Three key industry organisations have endorsed a best practice guide for the controversial Modern Method of Auction. The iamsold guide is aimed at...
03 October 2019
From: Breaking News
![PropTech firm wants to clean up image of Modern Method of Auction](/img/default/eat.png)
A company operating the controversial Modern Method of Auction says it is trying to improve the sector’s image after a series...
30 August 2019
From: Breaking News
![Modern Method of Auction firm has sold 16,500 homes in a decade](/img/default/eat.png)
iamproperty, parent company of IAMsold, says it now works with 2,500 estate agency branches nationwide and has sold over 16,500 properties...
14 August 2019
From: Breaking News
![Agents warned to be in a redress scheme for ALL aspects of their work](/img/default/eat.png)
Estate and letting agents are being urged to check that they are signed up with an approved redress scheme that covers...
25 July 2019
From: Breaking News
![‘Good communication helps keep vendor expectations in check’](/img/default/eat.png)
Improved communication and increased transparency throughout the buying process can manage vendors’ expectations, improve satisfaction scores and create long-term clients. That’s the...
18 July 2019
From: Breaking News
![Radical reform for agency industry to be signed off by minister today](/img/default/eat.png)
Some of the most radical reforms ever proposed for estate and letting agents are expected to be signed off today by...
15 July 2019
From: Breaking News
![Clampdown on agents - Ombudsman to refer more to Trading Standards](/img/default/eat.png)
The Property Ombudsman will in future refer more estate agents to the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agent Team if...