News
News

Approval issued for two UK redress schemes

Two of the UK’s redress schemes for the property sales sector have been approved by the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team.

Two of the UK’s redress schemes for the property sales sector have been approved by the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team.

The Property Ombudsman and Ombudsman Services Ltd are now both approved to offer alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to consumers and estate agents where there is a dispute in relation to the buying or selling of residential property.

From October, new regulations will require estate agency businesses to advise the consumer of an ADR body relevant to their sector and the nature of the specific complaint, once they fail to resolve a dispute through their own customer service efforts.

James Munro, Team Leader for the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team, said: “ADR offers the parties an easier, quicker and more cost effective mechanism to resolve complaints when compared to the court process.

“It is generally accepted that consumers are more willing to use ADR than to use the court process, and that ADR is much better at maintaining, or recovering, a positive relationship between the consumer and trader.”

Further information for consumers is available from Citizen’s Advice www.citizensadvice.org.uk, and for businesses from www.businesscompanion.info – search for ‘ADR’

The National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team, hosted by Powys County Council, is the UK’s lead enforcement authority for the Estate Agents Act 1979. The team is responsible for approving the UK’s consumer redress schemes in the residential property sector, and for issuing prohibition or warning orders to individuals or businesses who are found to be unfit to engage in estate agency work.

Further information from www.powys.gov.uk/estateagency

***ENDS***

Notes to Editors

National Trading Standards

  • National Trading Standards is a group of senior and experienced local government heads of trading standards, representing all trading standards services across England and Wales. National Trading Standards set up by the Government as part of changes to the consumer protection landscape and an enhanced role for trading standards.
  • National Trading Standards provides leadership influence, support and resources to help combat consumer and business detriment locally, regionally and nationally.
  • For more information visit www.nationaltradingstandards.uk/work-areas/estate-agency-team/
  • National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team

  • The National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team (NTSEAT) is hosted by Powys County Council under a contract awarded by the National Trading Standards Board on behalf of the UK government. NTSEAT is the lead enforcement authority for the Estate Agents Act 1979 and has responsibility for prohibiting or formally warning businesses or individuals found to be unfit to engage in estate agency work in the UK. The Team is also responsible for overseeing the UK’s consumer redress schemes and issuing guidance to businesses on estate agency work.
  • Further information can be found on their website www.powys.gov.uk/estateagency, and the team can be contacted on estate.agency@powys.gov.uk.