Increased calls for regulation of estate agents

The government is under continuing pressure to bring in new regulations to tidy up the dodgy standards of some estate agents.

12:25 12 May 2004

The government is under continuing pressure to bring in new regulations to tidy up the dodgy standards of some estate agents.

One of its own backbenchers, MP Clive Betts, is tabling an amendment to the Housing Bill.

He is responding to calls from the public and industry alike to clamp down on the minority factions who are tarnishing the estate agency profession.

Mr Betts would like to see the government make it mandatory for any estate agent involved in putting the new Home Information Packs together to belong to one of the official regulatory schemes, such as the Ombudsman for Estate Agents.

Research from Which? highlighted a variety of dodgy estate agent tactics, and have now launched the "Move It" campaign to highlight the unacceptable behaviour of many estate agents. They want to motivate the government to act in the interests of millions of home-movers and make the regulation of estate agents mandatory.

Emma Harrison, senior campaigner from Which? wants to know "Why is the government shying away from legislation to regulate estate agents, when both the public and industry are clearly clamouring for change."

She added: "Mr Betts's amendment shows that there is widespread acceptance of the problems the public face with rogue estate agents. It is good that at least someone in the government doesn't have their head buried in the sand on this issue and is taking seriously the fact that millions of people are experiencing costly financial nightmares, as well as emotional distress."