It does not have the jazziest of names, with the moniker ‘Primary Authority’.

However, a partnership between Warwickshire County Council and NFoPP could potentially be of huge benefit to NAEA and ARLA members.

If an agent’s local Trading Standards interprets the law in one way and tells you one thing, then advice from the Warwickshire team could override it.

It will only do so, however, if as an agent you are both a member of NFoPP and have signed up to the scheme.

The Primary Authority advice (ie, from Warwickshire Trading Standards) is, however, available for all member agents – and indeed non-member agents – to view and, if they wish, to follow.

There are various other Primary Authority schemes by which local authorities can provide reliable regulatory advice to businesses trading in more than one area.

For example, Wigan Council runs an award-winning Catering Safely programme, while others run fire and safety advice. Westminster Council’s clients include Savills.

Here, for those who may not have seen it, is some of the assured Primary Authority advice from Warwickshire Trading Standards.

• When is it permissible for an estate agent marketing a property to describe an attic space as an additional bedroom?
• Is it possible to offer any guidance on time limits for how long a property may be described as ‘new’ or ‘new instructions’?
  
• What are the requirements for displaying business names in an estate agency?
• Guidance on the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013