As the regulation of the lettings industry continues to be a source of controversy, and with growth predicted to escalate over the coming years, Belvoir Sheffield, the leading letting agents in Sheffield 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 Sheffield, 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.
Rick Flay from Belvoir Sheffield, which specialises in providing flats to rent around Sheffield said: “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.
“They will 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.”, continues Rick whose office is based on Campo Lane in Sheffield.
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 Managing Director, Dorian Gonsalves is amongst a group of industry experts who advocated the scheme from the start and in the early stages committed Central Office funds towards its development.
He said: “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 our agents a competitive edge.”
Speaking of his own reasons for joining the scheme, Rick said: “Unfortunately there are still a number of rogue letting agents out there which is why we are 100 per-cent 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.”
Belvoir Lettings Agency Sheffield is the One Stop Specialists for Lettings including Property Management, Tenant Find, Investment and Wealth Management Advice, Fit-outs and Renovations, Furniture Packs, Investment Property Insurances and Mortgages
