Government moves a step closer to full regulation of the industry
Housing Minister Heather Wheeler has announced today that a new working group will be set up, tasked with raising standards across the housing sector.
The working group will be headed up by Lord Best, an independent cross bencher, supported by professional bodies including NAEA Propertymark and consumer groups such as Citizens Advice. The group will look at ways to improve standards for home buyers, sellers, tenants, landlords and leaseholders.
At the moment anyone can operate as a property agent, although property professionals can set themselves apart from the competition by joining a membership organisation such as NAEA Propertymark. In doing so, they agree to abide by a Code of Practice and provide greater protection for consumers, including Client Money Protection and belonging to a redress scheme.
The Regulating Property Agents Working Group will be tasked with considering the case for a fully regulated industry, including mandatory qualifications for all property agents and will work towards a new framework which will be consistent across estate agents, managing agents and letting agents. Full regulation would bring the industry up to the standards already attained by NAEA Propertymark members, making it easier for the public to understand the level of professionalism and protection offered by those working in the housing sector. This would bring increased confidence among consumers and a boost the reputation of the industry, making it more akin to the legal or accounting professions.
NAEA Propertymark and ARLA Propertymark have been lobbying Government for years for a fully regulated industry and have been instrumental in persuading the Government to take action.
We will be part of the working group throughout the process, which will look at:
- a model for an independent property-agent regulator, including how it will operate and how it will enforce compliance
- a single, mandatory and legally-enforceable Code of Practice for letting and managing agents, and whether similar could be provided for estate agents
- a system of minimum entry requirements and continuing professional development for letting, managing and estate agents
- a standardised approach for presenting transparent service charges to leaseholders and freeholders
- an easier statutory-backed process for consumers to challenge unfair service charges
- whether other fees and charges which affect both leaseholders and freeholders are justified; should be capped or banned
- further measures to professionalise estate agency
Mark Hayward, Chief Executive of NAEA Propertymark, said:
“We have been working closely with Government since the announcement of the Regulating Property Agents Working Group. We are pleased to see that this has been now set up and look forward to progressing this in the interests of all parties”.
We will of course update members as the working group makes progress. The group will report back to government in the Summer of 2019.
Read the Government’s announcement in full
Kindly shared by NAEA Propertymark
