The Property Ombudsman is reportedly dealing with an increase in calls related to disputes between landlords or tenants and relating to lettings and management agents that are members of the Scheme.

Complaints involving sales have been noted as being on the rise again, but most significant, says Ombudsman Christopher Hamer in his latest quarterly report, is the increase in disputes involving lettings.

Consumers in the lettings market are now making 129 calls a week, that’s almost four an hour on average, to the Ombudsman’s office seeking advice.



That is a significant rise over the 110 a week calling for help during quarter two of 2009 and far beyond the 77 a week this time last year.



Mr Hamer reports he is investigating almost 79 per cent more lettings cases (127) at the moment than he did in the same period, July 1 to September 30, last year (71). Cases under investigation involving sales have risen 17 per cent for the third quarter, from 104 to 122. But reflecting market conditions they are still almost 32 per cent below last year’s level (179).

Mr Hamer said: “Trends in the market are mirrored in the number of cases that I am asked to decide about three to four months later so any actual increase in activity in the market will become apparent in my workload towards the end of the year.”



The principal causes of disputes over lettings arise when agents are alleged to have failed to make adequate checks of tenant references, not explaining that holding deposits are forfeit if the tenant does not go ahead with a property to rent in the UK, and inspection visits not being frequent enough to prevent deterioration of the property.

Reference - Estate Agency News