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.

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

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 (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.

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.