Property businesses expelled from Ombudsman
A letting agent and a residential leasehold management company have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman for failing to pay compensation awarded to consumers.
The expulsions followed a review by the scheme’s independent Compliance Committee, which ruled that both firms should be excluded after breaching their obligations.
The Ombudsman, which offers impartial resolution services to consumers in the property sector, found that Noble Living (Nottingham) Limited and Blocsphere Property Management Limited failed to honour financial awards following upheld complaints.
Noble Living (Nottingham) Limited, based on Church Street, Wellington, Telford, was found to have failed to return a month’s rent paid in error by a tenant. The money was passed on to the landlord, and despite being made aware of the mistake, the company made no effort to retrieve or return the funds. The Ombudsman upheld the complaint and ordered Noble Living to pay the tenant £875 – comprising the £725 rent plus an additional £150 for aggravation, distress and inconvenience.
Blocsphere Property Management Limited, based on Eco Park Road, Ludlow, Shropshire, was the subject of a separate complaint over poor communication. A tenant had raised concerns about a lack of response during a dispute, and the Ombudsman ruled that the company’s conduct fell below acceptable standards. A compensation award of £50 was issued.
Chief Ombudsman Lesley Horton said: “With more than 19,000 registered businesses, we provide thousands of consumers with a trusted and reliable route to resolve their complaints.
“Our proactive membership team works closely with agents to ensure that awards are paid promptly. Expulsion is the very last resort, and the last step in our compliance process. As an example, and after initial expulsion, two businesses were readmitted following awards payments being made.
“The fact that only 13 businesses were expelled throughout 2025 highlights the strength of our processes, with more than 99% complying with our decisions and paying awards when directed.
“We know that sometimes things do go wrong, which is why we have focused on early resolution over the past year. By bringing consumers and businesses together sooner, we can resolve problems more quickly and reduce the impact on everyone involved.”
The Ombudsman scheme, which was established in 1990, plays a critical role in offering redress where property businesses fall short, including the power to direct financial awards or other actions to return consumers to their pre-complaint position.
It is not a regulator and cannot take legal action, but its decisions are binding on registered businesses, and it maintains powers to refer non-compliant firms to enforcement authorities.