It has been a legal requirement for all letting agents to be regulated by a Redress Scheme since 1st October 2014. Being regulated by a Redress Scheme means that:  

• Agents must follow the specific code of conduct. 
• Tenants and property owners can complain directly to the Redress Scheme if the letting agent provides poor service. There are no fees for complaints. 
• Agents will be penalised if they breached the code of conduct or if they are unregulated by a Redress Scheme. 

The 3 government-approved letting agency redress schemes: 

1. The Property Ombudsman 
2. Property Redress Scheme (PRS) 
3. Ombudsman Services  

Letting agents must register with one of the schemes above.  

Furthermore, in England and Wales, it is a requirement for letting agents to be a member of a client money protection scheme if they hold clients’ money. Here are some of the government-approved schemes: 

• Client Money Protect  
• Money Shield  
• Propertymark  
• RICS  
• Safeagent  
• UKALA Client Money Protection 

Check which schemes your letting agent is a member of: 

If your agent has not displayed the scheme that they are a member of on their website, then you should ask them directly or contact the schemes directly to ensure that the letting agents hold a valid membership.  

Since it is a legal requirement for letting agents to be part of a government approved Redress Scheme, failure to comply means that letting agents can face penalties of up to £5,000 per branch.  

The information in this post is valid to the best of our knowledge on the date of posting. It is advised that you seek independent advice based on your individual circumstances. 

T +44 (0)203 488 1488 

E: info@ladybirdliving.co.uk  

W: https://www.ladybirdliving.co.uk/