Estate agency closed by regulatory body to ‘protect the public’

An estate agency business in County Durham has been closed down by a regulatory body to “protect the public”.

Bennett Richmond Solicitors, in Consett, which also offers an estate agency service, has been closed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), with a notice being displayed in the firm’s window confirming its closure.

Clients have been told they can contact the intervention agent Gordons LLP, in Bradford, who are holding the firm’s files.

The statement on the firm’s widow on Front Street stating: “On June 14, 2023 the Solicitors Regulation Authority intervened into Bennett Richmond Solicitors. The solicitors firm is now closed.

“All practice papers, files and monies held by the firm at the date of intervention are now held in the possession of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.”

A statement on Gordons LLP states: “Bennett Richmond Solicitors has been closed down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). This is known as an intervention. We are dealing with the closure for the SRA. All files for ongoing matters handled by Bennett Richmond Solicitors are in our possession.

“The intervention only relates to Bennett Richmond Solicitors.

“We understand Bennett Richmond Estate Agents ceased trading prior to the intervention.

“All clients with an ongoing matter for whom we are holding a file will be notified and can tell us where to send their file. In the meantime, clients should instruct a new solicitor. We are not acting for you in place of Bennett Richmond Solicitors.

“It may be that newly instructed solicitors can make progress for you without your file but, if not, they can get in touch with us and we will do all we can to help.

“If you have sent us a file request form, this will be dealt with as soon as possible. We aim to send files to where you want them sent within five working days of receipt. We appreciate your patience. If your request is urgent please let us know and we will do all we can to help.”

A spokesperson for the SRA said: “We have closed this firm down to protect the public.”

 

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10 Comments

  1. Chris Arnold

    So much for industry mandated qualification – character matters more.

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    1. jan-byers

      Exactly –  a so called qualification that a monkey could pass does not alter the fact that is any industry there are some scammers and cheats

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      1. Rob Hailstone

        You know some clever monkeys Jan

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        1. jan-byers

          No i just know some dim estate agents and conveyancers after 40 years in the business

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  2. simonwilkinson73

    Here we go again….

    We need a Regulator for Property Agency: The Government have failed to act and Propertymark can fill the void now, introducing much higher minimum standards of Compliance and then marketing them effectively to change consumer behaviour is the way forward. Propertymark Protected is the opportunity.

    How many agents have been banned, struck off, fined, sanctioned and yet the next day they are still trading and calling themselves honest and people of integrity?

    Propertymark Company membership standards and Individual membership standards ( qualifications / rules / code of conduct) and robust policing and monitoring / sanction including independent audit by Propertymark Compliance department is any easy way forward. This with the backing of Consumer groups and Trading standards will provide the confidence to the Consumer that is very long overdue! Good agents will increase market share accordingly….so a Win -Win.

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    1. jan-byers

      Property ,mare is a toothless load of mutual backslappers – they are worthless and the public has never heard of them

      Their so called qualification is a joke

      one of the questions is where in a house are the joists

      FGS that is a point in an exam

      They are a joke

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    2. jan-byers

      This company were solicitors

      They have loads of qualifications / rules / code of conduct) and robust policing and monitoring

      When I was an agent no way would I allow the t =====s from PM to look at my books they would be told to f off

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      1. simonwilkinson73

        Interesting POV, so what’s the answer then?

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        1. jan-byers

          the answer is that there will always be rogues in any business

          EA is not rocket science – there will always be those who cheat this company were lawyers after all

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      2. Woodentop

        And who regulates ALL property developers in the UK?

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