The Property Ombudsman (TPO)

The Property Ombudsman (TPO)

What is TPO?

Formerly the Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA), which was established on 1 January 1998.

TPO is open to all those firms of estate agents with a principal, director or partner who is a member of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) or the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

It is also open to all corporate estate agents, defined as those who are subsidiaries of a bank, building society or insurance companies; to companies quoted on the Stock Exchange; and to other estate agents who are sponsored and seconded by existing member agents.

From June 2006, it extended its services to Lettings and Property Management agents.

From 1 October 2008, all estate agents have been required to register with an Estate Agents Redress Scheme that has been approved by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). TPO is one of the schemes approved by the OFT.

What does that mean for me?  The Property Ombudsman say they provide a free, fair and independent service for dealing with unresolved disputes between sales and lettings agents who have joined the scheme and consumers who are actual or potential buyers or sellers or landlords or tenants of residential property in the UK.

How am I protected? The Ombudsman's role is to reach a resolution of unresolved disputes in full and final settlement and, where appropriate, make an award of financial compensation or other action - for example, an apology.

If you feel that you have been disadvantaged by the actions or inactions of a TPO member, you have access to an independent dispute resolution service and "can be certain of receiving a fair and reasonable judgement of your complaint."

Review our guide to Property Regulators