Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, we at BAOJOE strive to operate according to best practice to protect your interest and monies. But if things do not go quite as planned, any complaints you raise will be addressed promptly. For any issues that are not satisfactorily resolved, you will be able to seek independent redress.
Client Money Protection
The Government has set out regulations to implement mandatory membership of a client money protection scheme for all property agents in England from 1st April 2019. It is thought that £2.7 billion is held by letting agents at any one time including rents and monies to cover maintenance. Of this, it is estimated that £700 million is not protected, leaving tenants and landlords vulnerable to agents who go bust or abscond. Landlords can choose an agent depending on whether they are professionally qualified and belong to a Client Money Protection scheme, but tenants don’t have such a choice thereby making them particularly vulnerable.
BAOJOE has enrolled onto the Propertymark Client Money Protection Scheme, which provides compensation to landlords, tenants and other clients should an agent misappropriate their rent, deposit or other client funds. Please click here to see the certificate confirming our membership.
ARLA Propertymark
BAOJOE is a member of the ARLA Propertymark.
Letting agents do not currently have to be qualified. Anyone can set up a lettings agency, and agents that do not adhere to best practice will have contributed to the lettings industry getting a bad reputation. Only an ARLA Propertymark member offers true protection and peace of mind. To become an ARLA Propertymark member, an agent is required to attain a level 3 award for their professional qualification in Residential Letting and Property Management. ARLA Propertymark members are also required to operate in a transparent way, providing services which are subject to independent scrutiny. Any agent who falls below Propertymark’s standards will be subject to disciplinary action. Details of Propertymark Conduct and Membership Rules are available here.
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) Scheme
BAOJOE is a member of the TPO Scheme (membership number D14428) and abide by its Code of Practice.
The Property Ombudsman scheme has been providing consumers and property agents with an alternative dispute resolution service for 27 years and provides consumers with a free, impartial and independent alternative dispute resolution service.
Validate our membership here:
https://www.tpos.co.uk/find-a-member
You can also download a copy of our in-house complaint procedure here.
Check your Depsoit here:
https://myaccount.depositprotection.com/#tenancy/checkDepositStatus
Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
BAOJOE registers ALL tenancy deposits with the DPS.
DPS is authorised by the government to protect deposits for tenancies in England and Wales and are the biggest provider of deposit protection in the UK. It has been providing a simple, hassle free service for over 10 years, and in that time it looked after more than 5 million deposits, so you can sure that your deposit is safe.