The company trading as London Short Let Flats which Eye highlighted yesterday has been reported to Trading Standards by the Property Ombudsman.

The National Approved Letting Scheme has also reported it, both to Trading Standards and Action Fraud.

Yesterday, TPO Christopher Hamer said: “We are aware of this company and can confirm that it is not a member of the TPO but is falsely using our logo.

“TPO’s administration team first flagged this company’s misuse of our logo in March, when they were trading under the name Home Lettings Centre.

“Our membership compliance team wrote to them in March advising that the use of our logo without being a member of the TPO was an offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, which provides consumer protection from unfair or misleading trading practices, misleading omissions and aggressive sales tactics.

“We gave them ten days to remove our logo from any of their marketing materials and reiterated that they have a legal obligation to be a member of a redress scheme, to which currently they are not.

“We have not received a response.

“They have now been referred to Trading Standards.

“TPO will always report logo misuse or failure to register as part of a redress scheme, but a matter of fraud would need to be investigated by the local authorities and police.”

The London Short Let Flats website enables bookings online. Bookings are confirmed on receipt of either the full payment or a 30% non-refundable deposit. Full payment has to be made two weeks prior to arrival. Bookings are confirmed by emailing a copy of the bank transfer advice, with cash and cheques not accepted.

Eye has again failed to establish contact with the firm.

The website is here