The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme has issued an updated version of its Codes of Practice for agents in the Channel Islands in order to address emerging industry issues and provide continuity in its presence across both the UK and Channel Islands. As this is the first revision to the Channel Island Codes since 2016, there has been considerable changes to incorporate factors such as GDPR requirements, dual fees and referral fees.

A letting agent in Finchley, The London Landlord Limited, has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) for failing to pay an outstanding award of over £6,000, they also failed to pay their membership renewal fees.

An estate agent in Blackpool, Leftmove Estate Agent Holdings Limited (trading as Leftmove Estate Agents), has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) for failing to pay an outstanding award of £700 to a house seller who submitted a complaint to TPO. The agent is no longer trading.

Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Chelmsford, Essex, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent, Old Moulsham Estates Limited (trading as Hawksley Pearce), has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman and is now in liquidation but appears to have a new business trading from the same address.

Tenants and landlords in St. Leonards-On-Sea are being warned that a local letting agent, Foremost Lettings Ltd (trading as Foremost Lettings), has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman and is no longer trading. A Facebook post from December 2019 states that the company has been bought out by The Property Café, which do not appear to hold any common directors with Foremost Lettings.

On Wednesday 1 July 2020, The Property Ombudsman’s (TPO) Consumer and Industry Forums, chaired by Mark McLaren and Michael Stoop respectively, joined via Zoom to address emerging issues alongside the official launch of the Consumer Codes Steering Group.

FREE TO JOIN * We are pleased to welcome Katrine Sporle, Property Ombudsman and Jane Erskine, Deputy Ombudsman who will present a slimmed down version of TPO’s national conference that was due to take place in Birmingham this year.

From October 2020, Rebecca Marsh will take up the role of Ombudsman at The Property Ombudsman, taking over from her predecessor Katrine Sporle CBE, whose five-year contract comes to an end on 31st October.

-      30,365 enquiries (up just 4% on 2018)

-      5,106 became formal complaints (up 20% on 2018)

-      £2.20 million in awards

-      Agents settled 98% of awards made

-      Just 22 agents were expelled from TPO for non-compliance

A case that The Property Ombudsman was asked to review came from a buyer concerning the survey.

A case that The Property Ombudsman was asked to review came from buyers concerning the accuracy of the information within the local authority search compiled by the search provider (SP).

A case that The Property Ombudsman was asked to review came from a tenant about the information she was given about the deposit replacement product (DRP) before the tenancy commenced; her attempt to change from the DRP to a regular deposit scheme and the agent’s handling of the same; as well as concerns about the arbitration process.

A case that The Property Ombudsman was asked to review came from buyers who stated that the agent had failed to provide them with all material information about the property, in this case failing to notify them of badger setts in the garden.

A case that The Property Ombudsman was asked to review came from a leaseholder who stated that the agent had failed to pro-actively manage the water leaks from the flat above.

A case that The Property Ombudsman was asked to review came from a buyer who stated that the agent had failed to disclose that there was a basement beneath the property to which unauthorised alterations had been made by the sellers.

A case that The Property Ombudsman was asked to review came from landlords about the retention of a £2,500 landlord incentive payment paid by the Borough Council (BC).

Already well documented in the press, rising rents in the private rented sector combined with cuts to housing benefits following the introduction of Universal Credit, have made letting to councils a less attractive proposition for private landlords.

A case that The Property Ombudsman was asked to review came from freeholders concerning the management of the estate by the managing agents.

Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent, SSM2 Limited (formerly Samuel Makepeace Limited), at the time trading as Samuel Makepeace Bespoke Estate Agents, has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme for owing a buyer £5,000. The Property Ombudsman has been made aware that the trading name has since been purchased by another individual and would like to make it clear that this press release does not pertain to the legal entity Samuel Makepeace Milton Limited (t/a Samuel Makepeace Bespoke Estate Agents).

Eight estate and letting agents have been expelled from membership of The Property Ombudsman (TPO) after failing to comply with parts of the TPO Codes of Practice*. All of the agents have ceased trading, five are in liquidation and all have been referred to Trading Standards.

Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent, Barrington & Blake Estates Limited, has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme and is going through liquidation.