Ealing calls for estate agent crackdown
Letting Agents - 05/12/2006 16:31:19
Estate agents in Ealing have called for the housing sector to come under tighter regulation despite the Queen's Speech outlining plans to force all firms to join the industry's Ombudsman.
Previously, anyone had been able establish an estate agency as there is no binding code of conduct and membership to the Ombudsman is voluntary.
However, from next year every estate agencies and letting agents will be forced to join the regulator to allow the government to implement stricter control and better protect the rights of the consumer.
But some estate agents told the Ealing Times that they wanted to see legislation go further and for anyone who sells property to be regulated.
Gary Sinton at Sinton Andrews said: "As far as I've always been concerned, it is imperative that estate agency should be licensed and that all estate agents should pass some sort of competence exam before they are able to trade.
"I think the proposals do not go far enough and licensing is the only way to ensure that we rid the profession of unqualified and unprofessional agents."
Mr Sinton added that there should be a 12-month probation period before wannabe estate agents are allowed to value people's homes.
If you're looking to sell or rent your property, check out trustworthy estate agents near you in our online directory.