The industry regulator has received 248 complaints about estate agents since it came into being just over two years ago and is currently investigating 48 live cases.
However, the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team has been unable to state how many cases it has proactively initiated in its role as a result of its own investigations.
In a Freedom of Information answer to estate agent Chris Wood, NTSEAT simply says: “This data is not recorded”.
NTSEAT has also declined to say how many cases it has concluded since it came into being as the regulator on April 1, 2014. It has also not said what the outcomes were.
It says that information is exempt.
Asked about its policy on transparency of the process and outcomes, the reply states that NTSEAT has “no stated policy” but “would welcome feedback on the process and any other part of its functions”.
Wood this morning said he was taking the reply that “data is not recorded” as meaning “zero”.
He said it was proof that “you cannot police a multi-billion pound industry with a staff of just four people. Anarchy in the UK property market.”
So far this year, according to NTSEAT’s public register, it has concluded only one case and that was back in January – a prohibition which is the subject of an appeal.
NTSEAT, operated by Powys County Council, took over from the Office of Fair Trading. As well as having had 248 complaints, it has had 200 requests for advice, 38 other enquiries and ten media requests.
Comments (5)
NTSEAT has also declined to say how many cases it has concluded… It says that information is exempt.
Erm – sorry, but isn’t there a requirement to publish the results of all official investigations?
OOPS – should have read the bottom paragraph of the article…
To put This in context, compare what The Property Ombudsman achieves and deals with in a year who don’t even represent all UK agents – Around 3,000 new complaints and 2,500 resolved. Full report here http://bit.ly/1SRIQCZ
At the top is BIS (Business innovation & Skills), then comes Treasury/HMRC, CMA then NTSEAT for Trading Standards). Underneath comes the three redress schemes with their codes and membership obligations.
In fairness NTSEAT has a big patch to deal with. But not all complaints are down to them. They also tie in with Citizens Advice.
For the work level NTSEAT have, they do pretty well. What the industry needs to do is maybe support them a little more and request government increase their budget to closer £1m to employ more officers and workable funding in NTSEAT.
‘currently investigating 48 live cases’ – seriously? That seems an incredibly low figure nationally.