Trading Standards teams across the UK are today supporting a special initiative in support of SAFEAgent Awareness Week.

They will be looking to see how letting agents are adhering to legal requirements. Typically these involve unannounced visits to agency offices, with spot checks looking to see if agents are correctly displaying their fees, redress membership,  and, if they have Client Money Protection, details as to this.

From next year, all letting agents will have to offer CMP, or face fines of up to £30,000.

Commenting on today’s Effective Enforcement Day, Martin Harland, chair of London Trading Standards Letting Agents Group said: “Local Trading Standards departments look to ensure through our important work that renters are safe and secure from the minority of agents and landlords who flout the law.

“There are many professional agents who provide an excellent service and effective enforcement is about creating level and fair conditions for them to thrive while stamping out the criminals.”