Tenants and landlords handing over their hard-earned cash to a letting agent should check their money is protected if things go wrong.
The SAFE (Safe Agent Fully Endorsed) scheme means a letting agent or landlord will you’re your deposit and any fees in a bank account that can’t be used for any other purpose.
Independent estate agent Sims Williams is backing a national campaign aimed at protecting tenants and landlords from rogue letting agents.
SAFE Agent Scheme
As a committed member of the SAFE Agent scheme, Sims Williams supports the annual awareness week as an excellent way to remind tenants and landlords of their rights and drive up standards across the residential lettings industry.
What does being a SAFE agent involve?
As members of the scheme, reputable letting agents and landlords must prove they belong to a nationally recognised Client Money Protection scheme.
If you’re planning to use a letting agent or rent directly through a private landlord, you should check they belong to an approved scheme before you hand over any money or sign aa tenancy agreement.
Tenancy Deposit Scheme
As a leading independent lettings agent in the towns and villages between Chichester, Walberton and Arundel, Sims Williams belongs to the Government-approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme.
How does the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) work?
If you are planning to rent a property on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST), you’ll probably be asked to pay a deposit.
Sims Williams holds your deposit money in a specially created account which is totally separate to other areas of our business.
We explain how the Tenancy Deposit Scheme works and provide written details to all our tenants and landlords at the start of every tenancy.
At the end of the tenancy agreement, you’ll get your deposit back, providing you have paid the rent and are leaving the property in the same condition as when you moved in.
Why are deposit protection schemes and the Safe Agent mark important?
At Sims Williams, we feel privileged that so many tenants, landlords and property owners place their trust in our long-established lettings service.
We believe clear, transparent and financially sound systems which protect the interests of tenants and landlords are essential in maintaining our position as one of the leading lettings agents in this part of West Sussex.
It’s time to rid the market of bad letting agents
Over recent times, there have been stories of unscrupulous letting agents who used tenant deposit money to prop up other areas of their failing business, and this is one of the key drivers for introducing compulsory client money protection schemes.
For independent estate and lettings agents like Sims Williams, highlighting bad practice and forcing poor agents out of the market is vital if the industry wants to retain consumer confidence in the private rented housing market.
Sims Williams’ lettings manager David Vawdrey says, “Sims Williams started trading in 1981 and honesty and integrity has been at the heart of our business since day one.
“We support any schemes that promote best practice, protect our tenants and landlords and help rid the market of people who give the lettings industry a bad name,” says David.
Sims Williams’ membership of professional industry bodies
Sims Williams is a member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and The Property Ombudsman and over 90% of our professional staff have industry-recognised qualifications.
About Sims Williams
We have been helping customers to sell and rent their properties since 1981 through our offices in Chichester, Walberton and Arundel.
If you’re looking to buy, sell or rent a property, call us today for a free market valuation and a professional service that you can trust.