We have now made provisions for all staff to work from home. We are continuing to take calls from consumers (around 40 to 50 a day) and to receive new complaints. However, please be advised that because of the lockdown, all cases within our system will be given a three-week extension of time.
Today, The Property Ombudsman has announced that it will cancel its annual conference, due to be held on 18th June, until 2021. In its place, TPO will be holding a Rightmove Webinar.
We are actively monitoring the situation regarding the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Our top priority is to ensure the welfare of our employees whilst also ensuring that we will continue to maintain the level of service that consumers and agents have come to expect from us.
Following the legal victories of two tenants who have both won out-of-court settlements against "No DSS" letting agents, The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has issued a reminder to its member agents of their obligations not to discriminate. TPO has also confirmed it will consider obtaining Assured Advice and strengthening its Codes of Practice in the next update to clearly prohibit ‘No DSS’ clauses in rental advertisements.
Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Shenley Wood, Milton Keynes, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent, DMF Inventories Ltd (trading as DMF Sales & Lettings), has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme owing a landlord £1,677.
Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Debtford, London, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent, Chebar Homes Ltd, has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme. This means that the agent can no longer legally trade until the outstanding award is paid.
Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Reading, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent, Concept Lettings Ltd (trading as Concept Sales & Lettings), has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme owing a landlord £4,704.79. This means that the agent can no longer legally trade until the outstanding award is paid.
Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Soham, Cambridgeshire, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent Let365co Ltd (trading as 365 Residential) has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme owing a landlord £1,895 of a £3800 award made by the Ombudsman.
Landlords and tenants in East London (E11) are being warned that a local letting agent, JBE London Limited (trading as JBE London) has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme owing a tenant £2,810.
Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Winford, Bristol, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent trading as Chew Valley Estates has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme owing a landlord £5,200.
For new members, renewals and new branches from January 2020, The Property Ombudsman (TPO) will implement a ‘fair usage’ policy, meaning that members which consistently generate the most Ombudsman supported complaints will pay more towards the costs of the scheme. This comes as TPO also announces its first increase to membership fees in six years.
Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Winchmore Hill area of London (N21) are being warned that a local estate and letting agent Assetgrove Prime Sales & Lettings Ltd (trading as Assetgrove Prime) has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme owing a landlord £1,820.50.
Landlords, tenants, house buyers and sellers in Strood, Kent, are being warned that a local estate agent Chambers Estates Kent Ltd, (trading as Chambers Estates) has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme.
Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Ilford, Essex, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent Kingsman Property Limited (trading as Kingsman Property) has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme owing a landlord £14,921.23.
Following feedback from this year’s conference, The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has announced that its 2020 conference, taking place on 18 June at The National Conference Centre in Solihull, will have a strong focus on legislative change, technical advice and best practice guidance.
Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Isle of Dogs, London, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent, Property 24/7 Limited, trading as Property 24/7, has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme for failing to pay an award of £500 made by the Ombudsman. This means the agent can no longer legally trade until the outstanding award is paid.
Landlords, tenants, house buyers and sellers in Shoreditch, London, are being warned that a local estate agent Chase & Co UK Ltd, (trading as Chase & Co UK) has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme. This means the agent can no longer legally trade until the outstanding award is paid.
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has made further expulsions after six agents failed to comply with parts of the TPO Codes of Practice and pay subsequent awards made by the Ombudsman. Whilst some of the agents appear to have ceased trading, others have re-opened trading under the same name but with different directors. Once again, all of the complaints against the agents were in relation to lettings work.
Landlords and tenants are being warned that yet another local letting agent in East London has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme for failing to pay an award made by the Ombudsman. Following the expulsion of William Huxley and Lang & Ward earlier in the year, Citi Places Management Ltd (trading as Citi Places Management) is the latest agent in the area which can no longer legally trade until the outstanding award is paid.
Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Grays, Essex, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent Elite Properties Essex Ltd (trading as Elite Properties) has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme. This means the agent can no longer legally trade until the outstanding award is paid.
