Estate Agency Foundation pulls plug on giving more funds to Shelter

The Estate Agency Foundation, the industry’s own charity dedicated to helping homeless people, has decided to stop handing out sums of money to Shelter.

Last year, it gave £20,000 to the charity which has successfully fought to make lettings’ agents’ charges to tenants illegal in Scotland and has now brought its fight to England.

A spokesperson for the EAF said: “EAF directors Michael Stoop, Lucy Morton, David Newnes and chairman Bill McClintock have met with directors of Shelter and other key industry personnel to express concern over Shelter’s position with regard to lettings agents charging appropriate fees to tenants.

“The EAF have made no commitment to make further donations to Shelter but we will work together to try and find a resolution.”

Among those who have raised money for Shelter are Zoopla, which has announced that it too will make no further donations to the organisation. Instead, it will be supporting the Prince’s Trust this year.

Zoopla last year also notably backed the cycle ride, led by Jon Cooke and Sean Newman, which raised money for the EAF, including Shelter.

Other agency groups that have worked hard to raise money for the EAF last year, specifically citing Shelter as a beneficiary, included Andrews and the Guild of Professional Agents.

Last year, Fine & Country agents raised over £75,000 for the EAF. Andrews handed over £15,734, with most of the money raised through branch events in December.

Although the EAF still has Shelter on its website as a beneficiary, it also names a number of other homeless charities that receive funds, including those with little or no political lobbying presence, such as St Mungo’s.