Redress scheme

Redress Scheme membership

As of 1 October 2014, it is a legal requirement for anyone carrying letting agency or property management work to join one of two government approved redress schemes. These are:

• Property Redress Scheme - visit the Property Redress Scheme website
• The Property Ombudsman - visit the Property Ombudsman website.

The service provided by these schemes allows tenants and landlords to complain to an independent person about the service they have received from a letting agent or property manager.

Who does this apply to?

Anyone who in the course of a business carries out letting agency or property management work will be required to join a scheme.

Letting agency work is any work done in response to instructions from either:

• a landlord looking to find a tenant or
• a tenant looking to find a property.

This does not apply where you only provide a facility for tenants to contact landlords directly, for example a website where landlords can place advertisements for their properties.

Property Management Work is any work done in response to instructions from another person who wants to arrange services, repairs, maintenance, improvements, insurance, or to deal with any other aspect of the management of premises.

This does not apply where you only manage your own properties.

What do you need to do?

If you are a business involved in either letting agency or property management work and you are not a member of an approved scheme, you need to sign up as soon as possible.

What are the penalties for not joining?

If you are a letting agent or property manager and you fail to join a government approved scheme, you can be issued with a financial penalty of up to £5000 being issued by Telford & Wrekin Council.

Download our statement of principals for enforcement of this legislation.

How do I check if someone is a member?

If you are a tenant or landlord and would like to check if my agent or property manager is a member of an approved scheme, you can visit the Property Redress Scheme website or visit the Property Ombudsman website and carry out an online check.

If you think someone who should be a member is not, you can inform Telford & Wrekin Council by calling 01952 381818 or email rogue@telford.gov.uk.

Last updated: 15/08/2022 11:12