Property Redress Scheme is Forced to Expel Rogue Letting Agent

Property Redress Scheme is Forced to Expel Rogue Letting Agent

The Property Redress Scheme (PRS) has been forced to expel a rogue letting agent after it failed to pay money owed to its clients.

Despite signing up its 5,000^th member last month, the PRS has now decided that Carter Stones Limited, of 1A Connaught Road, Ilford, must be expelled.

The PRS reports that the letting agent failed to make awards totalling £15,406 to four complainants.

After receiving a number of complaints from both landlords and tenants, the PRS made the decision to expel Carter Stones. All of the complaints received were similar in nature, relating to delays and/or failure in paying money and poor or non-existent service.

Sean Hooker, of the PRS, comments: “Failure to pay an award, however large or small, is a serious breach of our terms of reference. Agents must not assume that the complaint will go away if they remain silent and refuse to engage with the scheme.”

Evictions specialist Paul Shamplina, who is also a member of the advisory panel of the PRS, also says: “Having been instructed by complainants who have not had their complaints resolved, I was shocked to discover Carter Stones are still trading out of the same premises with a slightly different name – Carter Stones Practical Living. I will shortly be undertaking a campaign to raise awareness of the issue of enforcement action against rogue agents.”

One landlord that previously dealt with Carter Stones and filed a complaint against them with the PRS feels gratified that the agent has been expelled: “They have made a complete mess of the management of my property, purposefully, it seems, illegally subletting, not registering rent security deposits, and defrauding me out of £8,928 rent, £745 fees/charges and security deposit.”

Have you ever dealt with a rogue letting agent? Remember to make complaints to any scheme you use.