Accord Lets sets the standard

After media reports about a landlady left out of pocket after a Warwick business disappeared, Katie Martin, branch manager of Accord, fears there are landlords in the area who are potentially at risk by not appointing a professional agent to look after their property and interests.

She said: “As ARLA members, we are required to work within a robust code of practice which covers the key stages in letting and managing a property.

“There are comprehensive membership bylaws including compliance with such issues as handling and accounting for clients’ money, which ensures monies are protected within the Client Money Protection Bonding Scheme; and Professional Indemnity insurance (within the limits of the schemes).

“We have been regulated by ARLA now for over ten years and are extremely proud to be members, in ensuring our landlords and tenants receive the highest standard of service, knowledge, expertise and protection.”

Accord were recently able to help a landlord who had experienced a difficult and challenging tenancy through negligence of their agent.

He said: “We encountered numerous and ongoing problems with a local agent whose ‘fully managed service’ we were signed up to.

“Initially the problems were of a minor nature, for example our rental payments were regularly late, but the severity of the issues escalated as time went on.  

“When we parted company with the agent it took two weeks of constant requests by us to have the keys to our house, our maintenance fund, paperwork and our tenants’ deposit transferred to us. 

“We still have outstanding issues with the agent yet cannot contact any representative of the company to attempt to resolve these.

“Conversely, we have been extremely impressed by Accord, who are efficient, professional, knowledgeable and proactive.

“As importantly, Accord is regulated by one of the industry watch dogs. Our unfortunate experience with the other agent has brought home to us the importance of working with a regulated letting agent, so that there is a redress route available to you, should you need it, if things go wrong.

“We will certainly not risk working again with an unregulated letting agent.”

Katie Martin added: “So confident are we in our high levels of service, we are offering a free set up fee to any landlord who is in need of transferring their property.”

If you have received a poor service from a local, unregulated agent or would like more information about Accord, please call Katie for a free, no obligation chat on 01926 437800.