TPO supports new tools to help local authorities tackle rogue letting agents

The Property Ombudsman scheme (TPO) is in full support of a new initiative launched yesterday by The National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS), an Effective Enforcement Toolkit, created to help local authorities tackle rogue letting agents who fail to comply with the law.

Commenting on the toolkit, Ombudsman Katrine Sporle, says: “This is great news for the Private Rented Sector and one that we whole heartedly support. We welcome all practical help for local authorities in our combined quest to raise standards and ensure transparency in the industry.

Last year, the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team (NTSEAT) launched a similar toolkit for the sales market, so it is good to see that local authorities will now have step-by-step guidance of the legalities and requirements for regulating letting agents.

In particular, the Private Rented Sector toolkit highlights the need for letting agents to display their fees and redress scheme membership. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires all letting agents to display the fees they charge to landlords and tenants, as well as which redress scheme they are a member of. There is a small minority of agents who still don’t comply with current legislation, so having these tools in place to enforce requirements effectively will help to tackle rogue activity within the industry.”