The Halifax Estate Agents' (HEA) campaign for compulsory licensing of estate agents gained a welcome boost from Clive Betts MP... 

The Sheffield MP has put down an early day motion (EDM)* calling for a compulsory licensing scheme for estate agents to achieve and maintain high standards across the entire industry.

The EDM also recognises the value of the summary box which is now standard on all Halifax agency agreements in England and Wales.  The HEA summary box features important information on fees, agreement type, notice period, payment agreement and the level of service customers will receive**.

As part of a compulsory licensing scheme, HEA believes there should be defined minimum training and competency standards.  In support of its commitment to this campaign, HEA announced it would have at least one National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) qualified member of staff in each of its 330 branches by the end of this year.  There are currently 198 NAEA qualified colleagues in the HEA network and a further 553 studying for the NAEA Technical Award.

Important step

Colin Kemp, managing director, Halifax Estate Agents, comments:

"This is another important step in ensuring consumers receive a consistently high level of service from estate agents across the country.  We're urging MPs to sign up to the EDM – by doing so they will be making an important commitment to ensuring consumer protection in the home buying and selling process."

 Clive Betts MP observes:

“Whilst I welcome that the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill will provide a mandatory redress scheme, I feel it would be far better if we had a mandatory licensing scheme in place as well, to ensure that all estate agents are qualified to provide a decent service, rather than having a system which can only rectify problems after the event.”