Who the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) are, what we do.
Who we are
The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) is responsible for:
- the regulation of estate agency work in the UK
- overseeing the enforcement of lettings agency work in England
We're a single point of contact for enforcement authorities and industry.
NTSELAT has officers appointed by:
- Powys County Council, as the lead enforcement authority under the Estate Agents Act 1979
- Bristol City Council, as the lead enforcement authority under the Tenant Fees Act 2019
The two enforcement authorities act as one team. They're authorised to carry out work in relation to both estate agency work and lettings.
This way, we:
- make the most of the resources of each lead enforcement authority
- complement the enforcement of lettings agency work in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales
Funding for the team is provided by a grant from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). This is managed by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), on behalf of National Trading Standards.
The funding is ring-fenced by the host lead enforcement authorities for the work of the team.
Oversight of the team is provided via the NTS Estate and Letting Agency Governance group. This includes officers from trading standards authorities and DLUHC officials.
Find more information on National Trading Standards, their work areas and teams.
Business plan
Our pdf business plan 2024 to 2025 (440 KB) shows our planned work.
It covers:
- how our work fits in with the National Trading Standards' strategic priorities
- our accountability to the Secretary of State who creates the legislation and approves the funding
What we do
Our area of responsibility includes:
- oversight of how the relevant estate and letting agency legislation is working and is being enforced
- issuing prohibition and warning orders that concern whether a person is unfit to engage in estate agency work
- approval and oversight of the UK's consumer redress schemes, Ombudsmen, and Alternative Dispute Resolution entities in the estate agency sector
- publication of guidance and advice for the public, businesses and enforcement authorities on estate agency work in the UK and relevant letting agency work in England.
We're the lead enforcement authority for the Tenant Fees Act 2019, which only applies in England. Lettings legislation in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is outside our area of responsibility.
However, malpractice or the law being broken can still be a "trigger" under the Estate Agents Act 1979. Therefore, we still want to be informed of any CPRs breaches by, for example, letting or property managers, in case it could trigger an investigation into their unfitness to engage in estate agency work.
Watch our short video on the work we do.
What we do not do
We do not:
- give specific, individual advice to consumers or businesses
- mediate or arbitrate in individual complaints
- award civil redress
- conduct routine investigations: these are the responsibility of local Trading Standards, Environmental Health or Housing teams. However, in certain circumstances we may investigate cases where a local authority is unable to do so
Guidance, criteria and evidence requirements for organisations who wish to apply to become an approved estate agents redress scheme operator.
Applying for your Scheme to be approved by the NTS Estate & Letting Agency Team
Before you submit your application you'll need to:
- read our document Guidance for Applicants (139 KB) , which details the procedures that need to be followed by an estate agents redress scheme operator when applying for its scheme to be approved by the NTS Estate & Letting Agency Team
- ensure you meet the pdf Redress Scheme Approval Criteria (270 KB) in order to meet your legal obligations
- complete the document Application Form (128 KB) , making sure to include any additional information to support your application
Email your completed application form and supporting documents to estate.agency@powys.gov.uk.
You also need to send a hard copy of the application form and supporting documents to:
Policy & Information Manager
The National Trading Standards Estate & Letting Agency Team
Powys County Council
Y Gwalia
Ithon Road
Llandrindod Wells
LD1 6AA
The Estate Agents Public Register has details of individuals or businesses who:
- are currently banned from estate agency work
- have received a formal warning under the Estate Agents Act 1979
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