Avrasons complaints procedure
Dealing with your complaint immediately
Our aim is to resolve complaints on the spot, so if you know which Department is responsible for the service you are concerned about, or the name or title of the appropriate member of staff, please make your complaint directly. The switchboard will help you find the right person.
If you do not have this information, please contact a Director of Avrasons. They will either direct you to the right person or take a note of your complaint and pass it to him or her. This will usually be done within 24 hours.
Formal complaint
If you are not happy with the response to your complaint please ask that your complaint is sent to a Director of Avrasons, who will reply within 20 days or write to let you know why this cannot be done and agree a new deadline with you.
Independent review
If you are not satisfied with the response from a Director of Avrasons, you have the right to take your complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner of Administration (the Ombudsman).
If you are unable to resolve your complaint, as we are a member of the NAEA, register your complaint with the Association by writing to: The Compliance Officer The National Association of Estate Agents Arbon House 6 Tournament Court Edgehill Drive Warwick CV34 6LG Telephone: 01926 496800 Facsimile: 01926 417788 Email: compliance@nfopp.co.uk
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Investigations follow a series of procedures detailed in the Association's Disciplinary Procedure Regulations.
Investigations
? Members of the Association are required to comply with Rules of Conduct and Code of Practice for Residential Estate Agency
? Complaints will be investigated in accordance with the Association's Disciplinary Procedure Regulations
The Association will look into all complaints providing there is no alternative remedy available
? Complaints regarding monies outstanding, compensation, bonds and rent should be referred to the Small Claims Court
? Complaints involving allegations of a breach of The Estate Agents Act 1979 or the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991, complainants are advised to contact their local Trading Standards Department
? Complaints involving claims for financial redress may be considered by the Ombudsman for Estate Agents, (see below)
Where legal proceedings have been instigated by either party, the Association will not commence their own investigations until the action has been concluded
? The Association does not have the authority over its members to order compensation to be paid to a complainant nor are we able to become directly involved in a complaint
? The Association is unable to investigate complaints about a member's conduct that has occurred more than two years prior to receipt of the complaint
Disciplinary Powers
? The Association has the authority to discipline members should they be found to be in breach of the Rules of Conduct or Code of Practice
? Penalties are; caution, formal warning or they could be summoned to a Disciplinary Tribunal (if found to be in breach of the Rules of Conduct, the member could be fined for each breach of the rules, suspended or expelled from membership)
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The Property Ombudsman
As of 3 April 2006 the NAEA made it a mandatory requirement for all Principals, Partners and Directors to have their company within a scheme that offers independent redress for complainants. For most NAEA members this means that they are also required to join The Property Ombudsman. This requirement currently relates only to
Residential Sales and Residential Lettings agents.
If you have not been able to resolve your complaint through the agents own internal complaints procedure you will be able to ask the The Property Ombudsman to consider your complaint.
Please contact: The Property Ombudsman Milford House 43-55 Milford Street Salisbury Wiltshire SP1 2BP Telephone: 01722 335458 Facsimile: 01722 332296 www.tpos.co.uk