The regulation of the lettings industry has long been a source of controversy and despite the sectors rapid growth over recent years it is still somewhat unregulated.
With growth predicted to escalate over coming years local lettings specialist, Belvoir, which has offices in Liverpool’s Cheapside in the city centre as well as West Derby Village is urging landlords and tenants to choose their letting agent carefully, and in particular look for one that they can be sure will keep their money safe.
Since the launch of a new scheme, of which Belvoir is a founder member, this should now be a little easier. The SAFE Agent scheme, which already has 1100 members throughout the UK, including Belvoir Liverpool is designed to highlight agents which protect their “clients” through money protection schemes. All member companies are awarded the SAFE (Safe Agent Fully Endorsed) mark, which has been welcomed by the Trading Standards Institute as an easily identifiable kite mark related to financial protection. “Finances are obviously hugely important to both landlords and tenants, however they sometimes overlook the importance of knowing that their money is safe in the hands of their agent,” says Belvoir’s Adam Rastall owner of Belvoir, West Derby. “They’ll now be able to look out for the SAFE Agent kite mark and feel secure in the knowledge that lettings agents that have been awarded the mark will guard their money through client protection schemes.” SAFE Agent has the full support of the Propertymark Scheme (Propertymark) and since its launch has received backing from a number of high profile firms and consumer groups. Belvoir Lettings MD Adam Rastall is amongst a group of industry experts who advocated the scheme from the start. He added “I firmly believe that the introduction of SAFE Agent is a positive step in the right direction for the regulation of this industry. It mirrors Belvoir’s three core principles of professionalism, specialism and high quality customer service and will give us as agents a competitive edge.” “Unfortunately there are still a number of rogue letting agents out there which is why we are 100% behind a scheme that aims to distinguish the difference between professional national lettings agents who operate a robust protection scheme and non affiliated corner shop operations.”
For more information on how the scheme works contact Belvoir on 0151-231-1631 / 0151-256-0880.
