Minister urges letting agents to sign up to TPO's Lettings Code of Practice
Jo Swinson, Consumer Affairs Minister has spoken out in support of a new Trading Standards Institute (TSI) campaign to raise awareness of their Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS), which replaced the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) scheme in 2013.
The initial focus of the media campaign will be to remind tenants and landlords of their legal right to free and independent dispute resolution through TPO, the only redress scheme to operate CCAS-approved Codes.
The campaign was launched this week with from TPO about the number of landlords and tenants complaining about lettings disputes, since new government legislation came into force on 1st October 2014.
Jo Swinson, Consumer Affairs Minister said:
“This scheme is an important step in making sure that consumers can identify which letting agents are committed to providing the best possible service and resolving any problems that arise.
“I would encourage more letting agents to sign up to the code of practice and help to drive out the rogue elements that lack this commitment.”
The two-week media campaign will focus on CCAS Code members and TSI ‘Approved Traders’, such as TPO sales and lettings agents, who follow approved Codes.
TPO has achieved CCAS approval for its Sales Code, Lettings Code and two new Codes for Sales and Lettings in Scotland.