
Please Note: All references to the masculine include the feminine on TPO website and documents.
When joining The Property Ombudsman (TPO) Scheme, in order to remove confusion for consumers all branches trading under the same company or brand name are required to join. Head offices and administrative offices that do not deal directly with consumers need to register, but will not be charged.
There are two types of membership:
Becoming a full member brings greater benefits to your business by giving customers a greater confidence in how they are treated because you will be operating to standards which are higher than those required under the relevant legislation. This allows you to be seen as having high profesional standards and allows use of the TPO logos including the OFT approved code logo if your business deals with residential sales. By becoming a full member with TPO you will also be covered under the CEARA 2007 legislation.
Residential Sales
The sale of residential freehold or long leasehold property. This includes residential property which forms part of a commercial building for sale.
Letting
This includes lettings and Letting Agents.
Commercial Sales and lettings
Applies to estate agency services, provided by a person or organisation in the United Kingdom for buying, selling or letting of premises for commercial use, including shops, offices, business space, industrial and warehouses.
International Sales
Applies to that part of the UK transaction that is conducted under UK law.
Chattels
Applies to services provided in the UK in connection with the auctioning of antiques, general effects and personal property, furniture etc. NB auctions of residential and commercial property are covered by the relevant jurisdiction above.
Residential Leasehold Management
Applies to agents who manage blocks or multiple residential leasehold properties on behalf of the freeholder, head leaseholder or residents management company.
Residential Leasehold Management is charged separately and fees are per company.
Full membership means that you will be operating to standards higher than those required under the relevant legislation as you will be abiding by our Codes of Practice.
Becoming a full member also brings greater benefits, by displaying the TPO logo and in the case of Residential Sales the OFT approved logo on your premises; you demonstrate to the property buying and selling consumer your commitment to consumer protection and customer care.
Under the CEARA 2007, it is a legal requirement that all estate agents dealing in residential sales within the UK have to register with an approved redress scheme. If you are registering as a full member your membership will automatically cover you for this.
Membership Fees for 2012
Please note all fees are per office excluding Residential Leasehold Management which is charged per company
| Membership Type | Annual Membership Fees | Joining Fee | Total Inc Joining Fee | |||
| Excl VAT | Incl 20% VAT | Excl VAT | Incl 20% VAT | Excl VAT | Incl 20% VAT | |
| Full Membership | £170.00 | £204.00 | £20.00 | £24.00 | £190.00 | £228.00 |
| Residential Leasehold Management | £195.00 | £234.00 | £20.00 | £24.00 | £215.00 | £258.00 |
| CEARA Registration Only | £170.00 | £204.00 | £20.00 | £24.00 | £190.00 | £228.00 |
Cheques should be made payable to 'The Property Ombudsman Limited'
To obtain the application form and guidance notes please click on the following links:
Supporting Documentation
To support your application the TPO will require the following in order to complete the process:
In addition if you are unable to supply us with a registered VAT number or Company Registration number with your application, the following supporting documents are required.
In this policy all references to 'we' means The Property Ombudsman
The TPO require agents to hold appropriate PI cover with a minimum of £100,000 and with an excess of no more than £1,000. If your excess is more than £1,000, then you are required to add the TPO endorsement L1391. There is an exception to this if you are part of a firm of solicitors covered by PI insurance approved by the Law Society in which circumstances the endorsement is not necessary.
TPO Endorsement: Professional Indemnity Insurance
If your agency has more than one branch or have associated entities, all such branches and entities will be deemed to have taken up membership. You must advise us of any new branches and associated entities upon opening. We reserve the right to take such action as may be appropriate in the event of your failure to do so. Please note that an Associated Entity is any entity which carries on estate agency, lettings, commercial or residential leasehold management (as defined in the Terms of Reference) and falls within any of the following:
Please note that membership will not be accepted without a Franchisor Agreement, outlining the terms of membership. TPO recognises that large companies and franchisees work differently; in view of this the membership department makes every effort to establish a good working relationship and can tailor terms of membership so that they work for both parties.
To discuss your membership needs please contact the membership department via e-mail membership@tpos.co.uk or call on 01722 333306 selecting the appropriate option.
On receipt of your application form we will process it within 48 hours. If your application is successful you should receive your welcome pack, certificates and logos within 5 working days. If the application form is incomplete it will be returned to you via Recorded Delivery.
If you have not received any communication within this timescale please contact the membership department;
Please send your completed application to:
The Property Ombudsman
Membership Department
Milford House
43-55 Milford Street,
Salisbury,
Wiltshire,
SP1 2BP
