Trading Standards: can they really police rogue letting agents?
Summary
Safeagent has criticised the effectiveness of Trading Standards and NTSELAT in dealing with a letting agency that allegedly continued to display safeagent branding after its accreditation and Client Money Protection cover had been withdrawn. The article argues that delays and limited enforcement action may have left landlords and consumers exposed to misleading claims about protection and compliance.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors working alongside letting and management businesses should be aware of weaknesses in enforcement around agent conduct and consumer protection claims. The case highlights the importance of verifying accreditation, CMP status and public-facing marketing where agents are involved in transactions or management arrangements.
Key points
- Safeagent says a former member kept displaying its logo after accreditation and CMP cover ended.
- The issue was escalated to local Trading Standards and NTSELAT, but action was reportedly slow.
- Landlords may have been misled into believing they had CMP protection through safeagent.
- Safeagent argues the case shows gaps in enforcement and consumer protection.
- NTSELAT declined to comment on the specifics of the case.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
