31/03/2010 - Letting agency grievances increase
The number of grievances against letting agents has risen by nearly a half in the past 12 months, the Property Ombudsman said.
Complaints regarding the rental property sector made up 49% of Christopher Hamer's workload during 2009, compared with 28% in the previous year.
He foresees the trend continuing throughout 2010, and projects problems involving letting agents accounting for 66% of all complaints he receives.
A number of factors led to the increase in complaints, including higher levels of activity in the letting market due to the housing market downturn, higher consumer awareness and more letting agents belonging to the redress scheme.
But he added that many letting agents needed to "up the game" in the way they treated customers.
Mr Hamer called on whichever party wins the general election to introduce legislation to improve the protection for consumers and landlords who use letting agents.
He said: "To my mind this needs addressing swiftly. In the meantime, my message to any landlord or prospective tenant is to ensure that they use an agent who is a member of a recognised trade association or any agent who is a member of the Property Ombudsman scheme."
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