Recently, The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has taken the unprecedented step of expelling six estate agencies from its membership. This is a major development in the property industry, as TPO is the leading independent dispute resolution service for the residential property sector in the UK.
The Property Ombudsman is a voluntary scheme that provides an independent and impartial dispute resolution service for consumers and agents. It is a free service for consumers and is supported by the government. The TPO has a code of practice that all members must adhere to and any complaints made against members are investigated by the Ombudsman.
The six agencies that have been expelled from the TPO are: Belvoir, Leaders, Martin & Co, Northwood, Reeds Rains and Your Move. These agencies were found to be in breach of the TPO’s code of practice, which includes rules on transparency, customer service, and handling of complaints.
The expulsion of these agencies has been met with mixed reactions from the public. On one hand, some people have welcomed the move as it shows that the TPO is taking action against agencies that are not meeting its standards. On the other hand, some people have expressed concern that this could lead to a lack of consumer protection in the property market.
It is important to note that the expulsion of these agencies does not mean that they can no longer operate in the property market. They will still be able to conduct business as usual, but they will no longer be able to use the TPO’s services to resolve disputes with their customers.
The Property Ombudsman’s decision to expel these six agencies is a significant step in ensuring that consumers are protected when dealing with estate agents. It is a reminder that all agents must adhere to the TPO’s code of practice or face expulsion from the scheme. This should provide peace of mind to consumers when dealing with estate agents in the future.