The Ombudsman for Estate Agents’ (OEA) code of practice, to which all member agents must adhere, has received the backing of the Office of Fair Trading

The scheme allows the public greater protection from malpractice by estate agents than ever before and can mean any member agent can be struck off from the scheme by OEA if they fail to adhere to the code of practice.

Agents who have signed up to the scheme will be able to display the OFT’s approved code logo alongside the Ombudsman’s logo.

OEA chairman Bill McClintock said: "This is a big step forward for the consumer as it means they will have free access to independent redress when using OEA estate agents who will have to adhere to a strict code of practice."

"For member agents this also means that once they have signed up to the OEA scheme they will be entitled to use the OFT approved code logo alongside our familiar OEA logo. Members will also be listed on the OFT website."

The OEA have set up an estate agency monitoring system, which is operated by a third party organisation to ensure complete independence. "So far this scheme has been well received by the majority of agents," said Mr McClintock. "We have had feedback from over 7,000 individual consumers."

"We are striving to improve standards with residential estate agency so consumers are better protected. This is the reason why the Ombudsman was set up in the first place and the approval by the OFT of the code of practice is a big step forward," said Mr McClintock.

Although the Ombudsman’s scheme is a voluntary one, around 40% of all estate agency branches in the UK have joined-up. This number looks set to expand to around 75% once the board of the NAEA finally approves OEA membership as compulsory for all their members."

Bill McClintock added, "The result is that members of the public can use OEA members with renewed confidence that they will receive outstanding service from the best companies in the industry. Any complaints will be dealt with quickly and efficiently. Our advice is that the public should not deal with agents who have not signed-up to our scheme."

OFT approval of the Ombudsman for Estate Agents Code of Practice has been received in time for the public launch on October 5^th 2005. To see the Code of Conduct visit: www.oea.co.uk