An online petition has been launched calling for the introduction of mandatory licensing of estate agents.
It has been launched by Russell Quirk of eMoov.
He said: “How can it be that taxi drivers are licensed and so are pension salespeople and mortgage brokers. Betting shops and fast food shops too . . . but not those that manage the protracted, expensive and stressful process of selling someone’s home.
“Shouldn’t the estate agency profession be more accountable so that standards rise?
“This year saw complaints against estate agents rise last year by 32%, according to the Property Ombudsman, and so clearly there is a big problem in the industry.
“I’m intrigued as to how many in our industry will support this. Even though it’s from me.
“Surely only the worst agents would resist such accountability?”
eMoov is registered with TPO for the minimum legal requirements for sales, according to TPO website.
By this morning the petition had drawn 35 signatures.
Comments (12)
Agents are unlikely to sign it. Quirk will them have a field day with his pet journalists and HOA because no-one supported him. Lost will be the fact that Quirk is vexatious for the sole purpose of publicity and what ought to be a sensible suggestion is sullied.
I am amazed to see that EYE has run this story that promotes a link, considering the track record of Mr RQ.
This is more about RQ continued anti-estate agents strategy.
It this story had been written by some other person, I may have not stopped laughing. Chris Wood summed him up beautifully. This guy is more interested in keeping himself in the limelight. Lets take him to task….
Estate Agents have to comply with probably more regulations than any other industry = no need for licencing.
His own business ventures do not comply with rules & regulations? Talk about being two faced.
NAEA are not able to police their own members or resources for anyone else.
There isn’t a problem? While one complaint is not good put the stats he has tried to misuse into perspective ….. this was posted last week. Complaints to TPO relate to 0.0000000000000000001% of the work agents do everyday in a year AND MORE IMPORTANTLY if a member of the public is not happy TPO is there for them to regulate without the need to licence.
Licensing is pretty blunt instrument and has a tendency to limit entrepreneurship, start-ups and thus competition.
By contrast, open market competition itself results in elevated standards through natural selection.
Draconian licensing measures have a huge impact on limiting economic and competitive growth; ever tried setting up business in a highly regulated environment like say France?
Let customers be the arbiters of service quality and encourage them to shout from the roof-tops when it’s good or bad.
He really is scrapping the barrel to get air time these days …….
‘Even though its you’, a very dodgy agent, I have signed your petition. Its the right way forward for Estate Agency. Its True the public don’t seem interested in it or even NAEA membership but lets be honest, in every town there is a bad agent and this is surely the only way to let the cream rise and lose the bad agents. But I’m all for the industry raising its own standards, to protect the public even if they do not appreciate it at first. Its the right thing to do.
Who isn’t ‘Licensed’? NAEA / ARLA membership means I have a sticker in my window. Have to say the public will only be interested in licensing if they personally have a problem. Up until then it fails the ‘So what?’ test in most eyes.
From the man who holds no nationally recognised estate agency qualifications, whose own firm refuses to agree to sign up to follow or obey the TPO code of practice and who publicly thumbs his nose at Advertising Standards. The Donald Trump of estate agency.
“This year saw complaints against estate agents rise last year by 32%, according to the Property Ombudsman, and so clearly there is a big problem in the industry.”
Can you tell me how many agents have signed up to TPO compared to the previous years? This may explain the rise in complaints but more importantly, how many were upheld? That is what we are really interested in.
I found my own answer
Katrine Sporle, Property Ombudsman, said: ‘The number of agents joining the Ombudsman has grown 82 per cent in the last five years – 35,374 offices are now signed up and following our approved Codes of Practice.
Read more: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/article-3821171/Property-Ombudsman-resolves-disputes-complaints-rise.html
“This year saw complaints against estate agents rise last year by 32%, according to the Property Ombudsman, and so clearly there is a big problem in the industry.”
Care to highlight what, in your opinion, is ‘wrong’ with the industry, Mr Quirk?