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Letting disputes 'could utilise Ombudsman'
The National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) has begun discussions with the Ombudsman Scheme for Estate Agents (OEA) regarding disputes between landlords and tenants, it has been announced.
NALS offers accreditation for lettings and management agents who agree to meet defined standards of customer service, as well as providing adequate insurance. It also provides a complaints procedure.
In a move towards providing better services for both parties, the OEA could provide independent adjudication in the process of evaluating letting-related complaints by NALS members.
As it stands now, arbitration is the final stage in the complains handling process; NALS is looking to obtain independent redress for both tenants and landlords through a partnership with the OEA.
"It's all about delivering best practice for tenants and securing the utmost credibility for our members," remarked NALS chair Caroline Pickering.
"It is the NALS' ongoing aim to raise standards in the private lettings sector and it makes total sense that adjudication should be open to both tenant and landlord."
NALS is backed by the government and is also supported by the Association of Residential Letting Agents, the National Association of Estate Agents and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
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