In the rather unlikely Battle of the Ombudsmen, members of NALS – potentially 3,000 branches – are now being lured to join the Property Redress Scheme.

NALS has had arrangements for its members with Ombudsman Services: Property. However, this is now withdrawing from the current system of redress, and its exit will be complete in August. However its withdrawal is only to allow it to have a crack at the top job – whatever that might turn out to be.

Yesterday, The Property Ombudsman announced that it would be waiving its fees for agents currently with Ombudsman Services: Property.

Just 24 hours later, the Property Redress Scheme has now announced that NALS agents who join it will get discounts on both its membership packages.

The options are an enhanced model, which includes complaints handling; and the entry model, where the agents pays for any complaints that arise.

These will cost NALS agents £120 and £60 respectively.

To receive the discount, NALS agents simply have to contact the PRS and confirm their NALS membership.

The schemes are currently jostling for poll position after the Government announced a shake-up of redress in the property sector.

Housing Secretary of State Sajid Javid has made clear that his own preference is for a single housing ombudsman to cover the entire sector, including sales, private lettings, social housing and house building.

Another options would be an ombudsman portal directing consumers to a single redress scheme operating in each housing sector.

In the case of the private sector that would mean whittling the three current schemes down to one.

The rules of engagement are far from clear, but the protagonists who will come out fighting are:

TPO, backed by NAEA and ARLA; versus Ombudsman Services: Property backed by RICS; versus the Property Redress Scheme backed by NALS.

There could yet be a further twist: the Government has not ruled out appointing an entirely new housing Ombudsman.