Belvoir supports consumer rights

June 3, 2015 - PRLog -- Belvoir is delighted to support SAFEagent Awareness Week 2015 and also welcomes new provisions to the Consumer Rights Acts that require all letting agents to prominently display fees.

“I am very proud of the fact that Belvoir is a founder member of SAFEagent,” says Dorian Gonsalves, Belvoir’s Director of Commercial and Franchising.

“SAFE, which stands for Safe Agent Fully Endorsed, is an industry recognised mark, and denotes businesses that are members of a recognised Client Money Protection (CMP) Scheme.

“I am delighted to offer Belvoir’s support to SAFEagent Awareness Week, which runs from 1^st to 5^th June, 2015. This annual campaign unites over three thousand lettings agents across the UK in their determination to raise awareness amongst consumers of the importance of using a property management agent that offers CMP.

“Belvoir also welcomes the fact that from 27 May 2015, all lettings and management firms in England and Wales are now required to prominently display their fees and charges to landlords and tenants, as well as displaying whether or not they are part of a Client Money Protection Scheme.

“Belvoir has long been a champion of consumer rights and self regulation, and initiatives such as SAFEagent and mandatory requirements for further transparency in the industry can only be a good thing for landlords and tenants.

“Unlike rogue landlords, agents that belong to a recognised CMP scheme have professional indemnity insurance, stringent accounting standards, a customer complaints procedure and membership of an ombudsman scheme.

“Belvoir remains fully committed to customer care and professional standards. The message is simple – clients who choose an agent that offers CMP can rest assured that their tenant deposits are protected.”

ENDS

• Belvoir now have more than 160 offices nationwide. To find your nearest Belvoir office, visit their website at www.belvoir.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

·       Belvoir was founded in February 1995 by Mike and Stephanie Goddard. Its Central Office is in Grantham, Lincolnshire.

·       Mike was chairman of the bfa for three consecutive years and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Belvoir. Dorian Gonsalves is Director of Commercial and Franchising. Dorian sits on the Board of The Property Ombudsman.

·       Belvoir is recognised as one of the largest specialist lettings agency franchises in the UK, with 160 offices nationwide and aims to have 200 franchises in the next three years.

·       Belvoir was officially awarded the Best Lettings Agency Franchise – Gold Award at the 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2010 Lettings Agency of the Year Awards in association with The Sunday Times & The Times. Belvoir also won the Silver Award in 2011.

·       Belvoir was voted Best Large Lettings Chain at the Estate & Letting Agent Awards (ESTAs) 2013, which was hosted by Phil Spencer, and won Silver in 2014. Belvoir has won Brand Builder of the Year at the bfa Franchisor of the Year Awards 2011 and Best Marketing Campaign of the Year at the Franchise Marketing Association (FMA) Awards 2011.

·       Belvoir is a founder member of the SAFEagent Kitemark scheme, which is fully supported by NALS. SAFEagent promotes client money protection (CMP) and provides consumers with a clear message on those agents they should do business with.

·       Belvoir successfully listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange on 21^st February, 2012.

·       Belvoir won the Gold Award for Franchisor of the Year, at the Negotiator Awards 2014.

For further information or to arrange an interview with Dorian Gonsalves please contact Andrea McHugh, Headlines Journalism, tel: 01476 567438/07940 930 331

email: andrea@headlinesjournalism.co.uk