The Benefits of Joining the Scheme

Membership of The Property Ombudsman (TPO) demonstrates your commitment to Professional Standards.

  • Increases consumer confidence
  • Develops staff knowledge and service standards
  • Saves you and your customer legal fees and time
  • Enables you to concentrate on your business

Codes of Practice

Codes of Practice have been produced in consultation with the industry and other industry bodies.

The Codes provide a benchmark for agency staff to work to ensuring a consistent service for consumers.

The Property Ombudsman's Codes of Practice for Residential Estate Agents and Residential Letting Agents have been approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI).

CTSI operate the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS) which is committed to promoting codes of practice that meet their core criteria and have obtained CTSI approval. 

By abiding by our Codes of Practice you are working to higher professional standards than are currently required within the industry therefore setting you apart from your competition.

Assured Advice

TPO has a Memorandum of Understanding with Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards (WTS) service to operate as the primary authority for eligible member agents. Members benefit through the provision of tailored advice, on a range of legislation enforced by Trading Standards. Only TPO members will be able to rely upon that advice should Trading Standards Officers from a different local authority have a different interpretation of the legislation.

The TPO Logo

The TPO logo is recognisable by consumers and agents alike and shows your commitment to high standards of service backed up by the TPO codes and redress service.

Resolving Disputes

If a dispute arises it saves time and avoids potential legal costs to refer the matter to TPO after completing your in-house complaints procedure, thus allowing you to concentrate on your business.

Other Benefits

  • Internal Complaints Toolkit
  • Access to Complaint Handling Training
  • Discounted ticket price to attend the annual TPO conference with the opportunity to “Be the Ombudsman”
  • TPO is the largest provider of redress in the sector with a committed, experienced and skilled team dealing with consumers and agents alike.
  • Industry and Consumer forums to facilitate two-way communication between consumers, industry and TPO, allowing the discussion of issues, information and ideas to focus on reducing consumer detriment and identifying emerging trends.

Property Surveyors & Property Professionals

This applies to residential property surveyors and other property professionals who provide services to consumers as part of the sale or letting process.

  • From 1 January 2019, TPO has been approved by RICS to provide ADR services for its surveyors

  • Demonstrates your commitment to professional standards

  • Please read the following document for full details of the Membership Obligations

  • The cost of PSPP membership is £132 + VAT per annum, per company. Case fees apply. (£110 + VAT Early Resolution, £429 + VAT Full Review)

 
Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the completed form to submit your application.

Membership

By abiding by our Codes of Practice you are working to higher professional standard than are currently required within the industry, therefore, setting you apart from your competition.

  • For agents who provide estate agency services in relation to residential property under the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007

  • For agents who provide letting agency work under the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.

  • You are able to display the TPO logo to consumers and instil confidence by offering redress. 

  • TPO's sales and lettings Codes carry the Trading Standards Institute's Consumer Code Approval Scheme logo, which you are able to display, providing consumers with further confidence that they will receive consistently high standards of service from your agency.

  •  Full membership covers all your business services applicable to the Ombudsman's jurisdictions.

  • The cost of Full Membership is £262 + VAT, per annum, per office.
    Please Note all branches trading, or local property experts (LPE’s) 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.

  • Includes fair usage policy of up to 3 Ombudsman supported complaints per annum. 4th and subsequent Ombudsman complaints will attract a full case fee.

  • There is also a one-off Joining Fee of £70 + VAT

  • You can see a full list of our fees here.

 
Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the completed form to submit your application.

Residential Leasehold Management

This applies to agents who deal in property management work (manage blocks or multiple residential leasehold properties on behalf of the freeholder, leaseholder or residents' management company).

  • Covers the minimum legal requirement under the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.

  • Please read the following document for full details of the Membership Obligations

  • Residential Leasehold Management is chargeable per company, not per office.

  • For companies with more than 2,000 units per legal entity, there are two options:

    • A) Register each RLM legal entity managing under 2,000 units for an annual membership fee plus case fees due based on all usage.  Annual membership fee £176 (ex VAT) / £211.20 (inc VAT).
    • B) Register each RLM legal entity managing 2,000 – 10,000 units for an annual membership fee plus case fees due based on all usage. Annual membership fee £638 (ex VAT) / £756.60 (inc VAT).
    • C) Register each RLM legal entity managing over 10,000 units for an annual membership fee plus case fees based on all usage. Annual Membership fee £Bespoke – Please contact the Membership Team
  • There is also a one off Joining Fee of £70 + VAT

  • You can see a full list of our fees here.

 
Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the completed form to submit your application.

Application Requirements

What You Need:

TPO strongly recommend that residential letting agents obtain Client Money Protection insurance.

Information for Insurers