Estate agent in Wales excluded from The Property Ombudsman for non-payment of award

A sales and lettings agent in Porth Wales, The Property Dragon Limited, has been excluded from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) for failing to pay an outstanding award of £1,180. The company has been dissolved and removed from Companies House but it appears it could now be trading as Property Solutions Wales Porth. Consumers are being warned about this possible connection and potential risk. The Property Dragon Limited failed to pay a £1,180 compensatory award in relation to a complaint from a landlord who had several issues with their management service, breaching numerous aspects of the Codes of Practice. TPO criticised them for their actions which left the landlord responsible for the tenant’s water usage and with unpaid rent. Although an award was unlikely to be secured due to the agency no longer trading, a full review and judgement was given. An award of £1,180 was made in compensation, comprising an award of £850 for aggravation and £330 to cover costs incurred. The Property Dragon Limited failed to pay the award as well as direction from TPO to return the property keys. They also failed to pay their renewal fees resulting in their TPO membership being ceased. The Ombudsman referred them to the scheme’s independent Compliance Committee, which ruled that they should be excluded from The Property Ombudsman scheme. Despite The Property Dragon Limited being dissolved and no longer trading, TPO has discovered a potential link with Property Solutions Wales Porth as well as another previously excluded agency. As part of TPO’s process, notification of this expulsion has been shared with all relevant bodies, including both Local and National Trading Standards. The landlord has also been advised to seek independent legal advice and information has been provided to assist in alternative action. Gerry Fitzjohn, Non-Executive Director and Chairman of TPO’s Finance Committee: “As a member of TPO, agents are obliged to fulfil direction and comply with awards made by the Ombudsman, which The Property Dragon Limited failed to do. It appears that there is a connection with another agency that is still actively trading, so this is a warning to all consumers in the local Porth area. We would like to remind consumers to ensure they always use an agent which is a member of a redress scheme (The Property Ombudsman or The Property Redress Scheme) and holds Client Money Protection*.” Every sales and lettings agent in England is required to register with a Government-approved redress scheme, which enables consumers to have their complaint reviewed independently in the event of a dispute arising that the consumer is unable to resolve with the agent directly.