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Insurance
We believe that if you instruct a competent, qualified agent to undertake a job of work, you should have a reasonable expectation of it being done to your satisfaction. Of course, from time to time things go wrong and in a very small number of cases, it goes very wrong. Until the government legislate that estate agents should be licensed or registered, the current sorry state of affairs exists. The public will continue to be let down by a small handful of agents who cut corners ... or worse. If things do not go well for you then there are a number of different ways that you might consider getting redress. 1. Above all, document or record what has happened. 2. If the firm or individual concerned belongs to a trade body then each has it's own complaints procedure. Here are links to the relevant pages on their websites;- NAEA RICS ARLA ARP OEA 3. If you suspect that you have been the victim of either fraud or dishonest behaviour then you should contact Trading Standards. They are responsible for ensuring that everyone involved in the sale or leasing of property complies with the relevant legislation such as the Estate Agency Act 1979, the Property Mis-descriptions Act 1991 or the Landlord & Tenant Act. 4. Consult a lawyer. Before going to any great expense, arrange to meet with your agent and discuss your grievance with them. Most misunderstandings are just that - the result of a misunderstanding and usually settled by a frank and fair exchange of views and the chance to explain. It is highly unlikely that resorting to the professional bodies or even to law will be either a pleasant or cheap option and you must think carefully before embarking on such an action. 5. The internet and the press. Comments on the internet and articles in the press can be a quick and effective way to get attention. Remember, be sure of your facts and that there are laws of libel and slander. 6. Consumer Direct. As with many other services, the Government makes advice available on the Consumer Advice website. 7. RoEA. Use a site such as the Register of Estate Agents to write about your experiences with agents so that others can read and make an informed choice. Remember to be fair and accurate since nobody reacts well to offensive or ill-judged comment. The majority of agents do a good and effective job and are remunerated fairly for it. The vast majority of clients have a positive and valuable experience with estate agents but some do not. Money does not compensate for everything but as a gesture, we are planning that should a registered user of this site find and instruct an agent who's details appear here and if they are subsequently let down by that agent in the formal view of that agents regulatory body, the Ombudsman for Estate Agents or Trading Standards Officers, we will offer up to £5,000 in recognition of this fact. As you would expect, certain terms and conditions will apply and details must be obtained by e-mailing compensation@roea.co.uk in order to qualify |
