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.

Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Tonbridge, Kent, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent, The Olive Branch Estate Limited (trading as The Olive Branch), has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme owing a tenant £1,400. This means that the agent can no longer legally trade until the outstanding award is paid, although appears to have ceased trading. 

Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Morpeth, Northumberland, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent, Sam Allan Estates Ltd (trading as Sam Allan Estates), has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman and is now in liquidation.

Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Crystal Palace are being warned that a local estate and letting agent, Ronald Davis & Co Ltd (trading as Davis & Co Ltd), has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman and is now in liquidation.

Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Barkingside, Ilford, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent, Residential Asset Management Limited (trading as RAM), has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme owing a tenant £2,830. This means that the agent can no longer legally trade until the outstanding award is paid.

Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in East London (E3) are being warned that a local estate and letting agent, Flat Sharing Ltd (trading as Flintons and previously operating as Citiside Properties Ltd), has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman and is now in liquidation.

Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in Romford, Essex, are being warned that a local estate and letting agent, Target Estates, has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme, despite appearing to have now ceased trading.

Many high street businesses that have closed due to Covid-19 restrictions will now be exempt from business rates.

We have now made provisions for all staff to work from home. We are continuing to take calls from consumers and to receive new complaints. 

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.