Date Published 24 October 2011
Sawyers Estate Agents Plays ‘Safe'
Tenants in the Stroud District can rest easy knowing their money is ‘SAFE' and sound, as Sawyers Estate Agents, Stroud based sales and letting agent Sawyers Estate Agents becomes the latest firm to join the SAFE agent campaign, aimed at raising awareness of the logo to look for to denote where tenants and landlords money is protected by a Client Money Protection Scheme.
With over 1,200 lettings and managements agents now registered to use the logo, consumers should always look for the easily identifiable mark. The launch of SAFEW agent follows a number of high profile media cases where unscrupulous lettings agents have absconded with tenant and landlord funds.
The logo has been launched for lettings agents by letting agents with the aim of identifying agents in Client Money Protection Schemes and highlighting the risks of using ‘uninsured' agents.
Clive Brown, Marketing Manager at Sawyers says: ‘We want every tenant and landlord that we welcome through our doors to have peace of mind when it comes to client money protection. And, this is exactly what we can reinforce now that we bear the SAFE agent logo. The message to the consumer is simple – everyone looking to rent or let should ensure that they use a firm which is part of a client money protection insurance scheme – look for the SAFE agent logo'.
‘Landlords and tenants often make decisions based on cost but it is important to ensure you ask your agent for details of the organisation they are regulated by and which client money protection scheme they are covered by. All agents regulated by NALS, the Law Society, ARLA/ NAEA, and RICS maintain and operate designated client accounts where clients money is held completely separate from the operating funds of the firm. If the agent you are using cannot provide you with the assurance of knowing they are covered by a client money protection scheme the question you need to ask is why not?'
SAFE agent is also backed by industry and consumer organizations such as Shelter, CAB, NUS, the British Property Federation, the Trading Standards Institute, the Council of Mortgage Lenders and The Property Ombudsman. For more information on the SAFEagent campaign, please visit www.safeagents.co.uk
