Latest News
UK Landlords and Letting Agents Face Increases in TDS Subscription Costs
The latest statement by TDS – the Dispute Service, a UK non-profit organisation set up to resolve complaints and disputes between agents, landlords and tenants – suggests that the cost of subscription is expected to increase severely. The news caused concern for UK letting agents and residential landlords as the increase in subscription cost... Read more
Martin & Co. Awarded the UK Best Large Letting Chain
Many estate and letting agencies were participating in the Estate and Letting Agency Awards (ESTAs), which were held in London. However, the ESTAs “UK Best Large Letting Chain†award was given to Martin & Co. The award was presented to Mr. Ian Wilson, who takes the post of the Managing Director at Martin & Co by Phil Spencer,... Read more
UK Tenants and Landlords Are Being Abused by Letting Agents
Let us remind that several days ago Citizens Advice Bureau has published its “Let Down†report, which suggested that letting agents and managing agents’ attitude towards their clients is far from satisfactory. Yesterday, on May 21st Keshav Thukaram, who takes the post of the managing director at Smartlandlord, online landlord... Read more
Tenants Face Excessive Charges by Letting Agents
Recent report by Citizens Advice suggests that some Welsh and English tenants face unjustified and excessive charges by letting agents. The findings were based on the survey of letting agents’ clients that sought help on the Citizens Advice web-site. The results demonstrated that sometimes extra costs, which include administration fees and... Read more
Lighthouse Property Services Extends its Rent Guarantee Cover
Lighthouse Property Services, residential and student lettings agent located in Lincoln, have included a 12-months’ rent guarantee insurance into their standard package of private rental sector in an effort to safeguard its landlord-clients. The change that was made by the letting agent has caused a large number of reports on tenant arrears... Read more
Disputes between Letting Agents and Clients Increase
The Property Ombudsman has reported a decrease in the number of disputes between estate agents and their clients, which in the opinion of Christopher Hamer, the Ombudsman, reflects the downturn in the property market. The Ombudsman report reflected the situation on the UK market of property sales in the first quarter of 2009; also, the report... Read more
Voluntary Licensing for Letting Agents to be Introduced Shortly
The need to introduce a registration scheme for letting agents has emerged last week as the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) has come up with a plan of a voluntary licensing system and as the housing minister for mandatory regulation, Margaret Beckett, has proposed a similar idea. Both proposals coincided with the... Read more
EH Lettings Introduced Currency Exchange Service
EH Letting, an Edinburgh-based letting agency that specializes in property management, will become the first letting agency to provide the currency exchange service in its office, which is located at 22-24 Newington Road. The new service has been launched this week and it offers all major currencies for immediate exchange; it is being offered in... Read more
Renewal Fees to Be Challenged in High Court
A test case which will decide the legality of renewal fees, charged by letting agents to landlords in case tenants stay after their AST expires, has been heard in the High Court yesterday (April 28th 2009). The outcome of the hearing by the OFT against London Foxtons agents will not only affect the way agency agreements will be drawn up in... Read more
6th Annual Estate and Letting Agent Awards Took Place in London
Recent Estate and Letting Agent Awards 2009 ceremony took place in London at the five star Marriott Hotel in Mayfair and was attended by 300 of the top Estate and Letting agents of the United Kingdom. The results of the competition were based on the answers of landlords, who were asked a series of questions about the service they received from... Read more