What standards should we expect?

[Snorkerz]

A recent thread on here posted by the area manager of a well known letting agency showed a woeful lack of understanding of some basic legalities of landlord and tenant law.

These are people we (or people like us) as landlords pay a fortune to, is it unreasonable for us to expect a certain level of knowledge? Is it right that landlords are expected to give information to agents who are then charging landlords for that same information?

There are some excellent letting agents who contribute to this site and add knowledge. If those people were to seek opinions, I'd be happy to give them.

The relevant threads have been deleted (I have copies) but I am guessing this is another users viewpoint on the same problem http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums...074#post339074.

If I vanish for a while - you'll know I have been infracted (is that a real word?)

[theartfullodger]

Agreed: There are some excellent letting agents, I have one managing a property of mine..

As an example of what sort of practice & policy one would want to find I'd suggest...

Processes

Our rigorous compliance and audit procedures ensure we meet legislative demands as well as our own high standards. All new letting recruits undergo a three month induction course and are required to take ARLA examinations. Team that with a strong commitment to staff development and a comprehensive referencing procedure, you can be sure we are experts at what we do.

(Thank you, well know agency...)

[Lawcruncher]

Anyone engaged in a profession, or indeed any business, should know the relevant law. That is not to say that he should know the law in depth or be required to think like a lawyer or provide other than the most basic of legal services. Most important of all, and this is where many even well-meaning honest agents come unstuck, is to know what you know and not guess what you do not. You need to know when to ask.

[mind the gap]

If I vanish for a while - you'll know I have been infracted (is that a real word?)

Well, you haven't vanished (fortunately) but the thread you linked to has. What was it?

[theartfullodger]

Google "landlordzone Very difficult tenant - L wants him out" - & you'll see traces of it but it appears, dunno why, not to be cached.... Perhaps with time the traces will expand...

[leaseholdanswers]

While I agree with lawcruncher, this area like many businesses has long moved on to an approach that relies on process, not understanding and application.

As long as you follow the process, then for many organisations there is greater value in a person who can "sell anything" than knowledgeable or trained staff.

[Lawcruncher]

I have no problem with staff being trained on a need to know basis, but with a business like letting if you are going to do that then the staff need a good manual. They need to be told in no uncertain terms that they never depart from the manual or change any documents without permission.

[Izzycam]

They'd have to keep changing the manual on a pretty regular basis, what with the new fangled ideas, laws and crap that each changing government comes up with.
Letting agents would end up spending an unrealistic time retraining they're staff, can't see that happening somehow.

[theartfullodger]

They'd have to keep changing the manual on a pretty regular basis, what with the new fangled ideas, laws and crap that each changing government comes up with.
Letting agents would end up spending an unrealistic time retraining they're staff, can't see that happening somehow.

Brilliant bit of irony there izzy... (it was irony wasn't it???)

[leaseholdanswers]

I am often amazed and companies attitudes to training; on one hand we have local authorities who grind to a halt due to training ( one recently sent all it's technical staff off for a whole week) and private companies that expect the training to be done after work hours.

Most updates as above can be done in a half hour, besides people stop listening if it's much longer. Start it at 9 sharp on a Wednesday and open at 9.35. Job done.