Following our story on Friday concerning Connells Group and an alleged occurrence of a purchaser having their offer resubmitted after they apparently changed their mind about using Connells’ mortgage service, the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency team issued a statement to EYE. It implies that the case may possibly be looked at by Trading Standards.

Given potential legal processes that may result from National Trading Standards investigations, we don’t comment on speculation about individual investigations.

As the regulator of estate agency work in the UK, National Trading Standards works with local authorities and other regulators and organisations to enforce the provisions of the Estate Agents Act.

The Act requires agents to pass on offers from prospective purchasers promptly and in writing to their clients (except for offers the client has said they do not wish to receive), and agents must not discriminate against a prospective purchaser on the grounds that they will not be, or unlikely to be, accepting connected services from the agent.

A failure to comply with these requirements is a trigger for enforcement action and could result in a business (or individual employees) being liable for a warning or prohibition order which would affect their ability to engage in estate agency work in the future.

Instances of discrimination or failing to pass on offers can be reported by consumers via Consumer advice – GOV.UK  or by businesses or other organisations via Contact us (bristol.gov.uk).

Guidance on the requirements of the Estate Agents Act is available on our website: Regulations you must follow 

Connells’ branch allegedly applied pressurised selling on a purchaser