A Dagenham letting agent has been fined thousands of pounds for failing to list their landlord fees on their website and third-party sites.

Through the work of the council’s Client Money Protection Project, it was discovered in November 2022 that Becontree Homes Limited wasn’t complying with the legal requirement of publicising their landlord fees.

The guidance states that: ‘The list of fees must provide a description of each fee that is sufficient to enable a person who is liable to pay it to understand the service cost that is covered by the fee or the purpose for which it is imposed (section 83(3)) Of the Consumer Rights Act.’

Trading Standards Officers from Barking and Dagenham Council inspected the website of Becontree Homes Limited and third-party websites, such as Zoopla and On The Market and found that their fees weren’t listed. As a result, the letting agent on Becontree Avenue, Dagenham was issued with a fine of £4,500.

Becontree Homes Ltd appealed the fine to the First Tier Tribunal and despite agreeing that it was issued correctly, they reduced the fine to £3,500 due to business’s financial situation.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “No business operating in our borough will be allowed to just chose not to follow the rules everyone else adheres to. Letting agents must list their fees, no excuses. 

“Where breaches like this are uncovered I can assure you the council will take action.”