000 01564cam a2200229 4500
001 ABS66839
008 030701n2003 000 0 eng u
035 _a(Sirsi) u122820
100 _aTynan, P.
245 4 _aThe real estate agents
260 _c2003
490 _aWhich?
_v June 2003, 10-13(4)
520 _aInvestigates the performance and practice of estate agents in England, Northern Ireland and Wales and reports disturbing findings such as misleading advertising, unearned and double payment of commission, collusion with property developers and broken promises. States that currently there is no systematic way of preventing these kinds of malpractice and that the Estate Agents Act 1979 is not protecting the consumer effectively. Anticipating the publication of the OFT's study of the estate agency industry, the article suggests that the industry urgently needs proper regulation with the introduction of a mandatory licensing scheme for estate agents, unannounced checks on their records, all estate agents signing up to the Ombudsman for Estate Agents scheme, compulsory professional training and a standard form of contract covering such things as fees, selling rights and tie-in periods. Provides guidance on contractual terms and gives sources of further information.
590 _aABS
650 _aOMBUDSMAN FOR ESTATE AGENTS
650 _aMALPRACTICE
650 _aUNFAIR CONTRACTS
650 _aESTATE AGENTS ACT 1979
650 _aESTATE AGENTS
690 _aMANAGEMENT-BUSINESS MANAGEMENT-PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
942 _n0
999 _c72955
_d72955