Estate agents should be regulated - report

The reports author, former Office of Fair Trading head Sir Bryan Carsberg, also suggests making Home Information Packs (HIPs) voluntary. Carsberg says landlords, letting agents and estate agents should be required to have basic qualifications, in the interests of consumer protection, efficient markets and cost effectiveness. Currently, anyone can set up an estate agency without any qualifications or permission from official bodies. Estate agents are required to accurately describe property, properly handle client’s money and must declare an interest in a property. Breaking these rules a...