Industry regulator the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team has confirmed to EYE that it does have limited resources.

We invited NTSEAT, operated by Powys County Council, to comment after a reader – Chris Wood of PDQ Estates – received an automated email response from NTSEAT which included the wording: “Whilst we welcome and use all information supplied to us about trading practices in the estate agency industry, we do not have the resources to deal with individual complaints or business advice. You may therefore not receive a further response to your email.”

EYE has now been told: The priorities of the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team have always been clear. They are:
• Issue prohibition / warning orders to individuals or businesses found to be unfit to engage in estate agency work
• Approving and monitoring the UK’s redress / ombudsman schemes for the residential property sales sector
• Issue advice to the EA industry and consumers via its website www.powys.gov.uk/estateagency

James Munro, NTSEAT team leader, said: “We have never been in a position to offer advice to individual consumers or businesses.

“With our limited resources, the team feel it is important to manage expectations of consumers and businesses by making it clear what we are there to do, as well as being equally clear about what we can’t do.

“Citizens Advice are the national provider of individual consumer advice while business advice is available from local Trading Standards services, primary authorities, trade and professional bodies along with companies offering compliance advice, lawyers and other sources.

“Online advice for consumers and businesses is available from a variety of sources including Citizens Advice and Business Companion.

“It is important that we concentrate on dealing with the rogue elements of the estate agency industry whilst working to ensure that consumers can access free help and support from the UK’s redress schemes when they get a problem with their estate agent.”

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