CLIENT MONEY PROTECTION Agents launch national industry kitemark
A group of leading agents has launched a kitemark to raise consumer awareness of the financial risk of using ‘uninsured’ agents. With an increase in letting
agents failing and leaving client account deficits or absconding with clients’ rent and deposits, a group of national agents that includes Foxtons, Winkworth, Belvoir, Northwood, Spicerhaart, Touchstone, Bushells, Young London and Linley & Simpson, has been working to establish an easily identifiable kitemark which will signpost those agents who are covered by any of the existing Client Money Protection (CMP) schemes. If an agent does not display
the new kitemark it is a sign to consumers that they are potentially at risk. Nick Cooper, MD of
Northwood, who chairs the group explains, “Those agents within existing CMP schemes and who have fully compliant client accounting standards want to root out unscrupulous operators who tarnish the reputation of the sector. The group believes that the industry needs to find a more effective way to communicate to consumers the benefits of
TENANCY DEPOSITS TDS ‘Berlin Wall’
tumbles down Clara Oliver of Chelsea lettings agent, Soames, is pictured helping to kick down the Tenancy Deposit Scheme’s ‘Berlin Wall’ at the ARLA Conference. Built to symbolise past
difficulties in getting through to the Scheme, it was demolished after Chief Executive Steve Harriott told conference of the launch of the new system to give direct access to the senior management at TDS and improvements to its Call Centre. Clara Oliver took the big kick as one of the winners in the “Guess the Number of Tenancy Disputes” competition. The correct answer was 9,255 disputes between April and December last year. No wonder they wanted to kick something!
using agents who have CMP and the protection that this will afford them. We believe that the way to achieve this is to engage the support of consumer groups. This is where the new kitemark will come in. It will ensure consumers know exactly what to look for when they approach an agent. The aim is simple: no kitemark, no Client Money Protection if the agent goes bust.
The kitemark will be
available for use by all agents in current CMP schemes. It will be free for agents in CMP schemes to register with a nominal charge for marketing material.
“Landlords often make
decisions on placing their business with an agent based on cost but it can end up costing them more than they bargained for if the agent disappears with the contents of the client account. If agents are not part of a CMP scheme, consumers have little or no possibility of recovering lost funds. We have to make consumers aware of this.”
The National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) is fully supportive of the SAFE initiative. Caroline Pickering, NALS Chair said, “Those agents who meet the criteria of organisations such as NALS, ARLA and RICS have to pay for compliance. It makes complete sense that they should get the added value for money that this single distinctive kitemark will give. “Consumers should make their decision on who to place their business with based on the protection that they get, should anything go wrong. This kitemark will help to point them in the right direction and as a consumer focused organisation we are delighted to have been asked to help the agents get this off the ground. We believe this is a very positive move for the sector” The group of agents
welcomes other likeminded firms interested in joining forces to contact them at
register@safe.gb.com
MAINTENANCE
New property service launched
Two entrepreneurs have launched a new service, Challenger Customer Care LLP, to landlords and
property developers. The business is owned by Richard Hutchinson and Ben Wilkinson, who between them have over 30 years’ experience in surveying and contracting. Their business idea came about following their time working for leading housebuilders and contracting companies, where they identified a gap in the market for a company that could manage building repairs and maintenance for landlords.
Challenger Customer Care works with property agents and landlords to manage their repairs and maintenance services in domestic properties, schools, hospitals, student accommodation, offices or retail outlets. Landlords benefit from consistent and manageable costs, with the company project managing the whole process from receipt of call from building occupant to deployment of subcontractor and finally ensuring effective completion of the project. Richard Hutchinson of Customer
Care LLP says, “Our aim is to make the whole process for the landlord or property developer as straightforward as possible, by managing subcontractors and ensuring that residents’ needs are met quickly as part of enhancing customer satisfaction. There are huge benefits of our service, in terms of savings on repair bills and on the cost and time associated with dealing with customer issues and their supply chain.” Richard and Ben have already
started developing links with landlords across the country and have secured their first client, Vigo Group, which has an extensive national and international property management portfolio.
www.thechallengergroup.co.uk.
PROPERTYdrum APRIL 2011 55
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