ESTATE agents who deal with lettings are being advised by their ombudsman, Christopher Hamer, to pay particular attention to their dealings with clients.
With uncertainty in the residential sales sector, there is an increasing emphasis on renting property as a housing solution for many people as they wait to see what happens with mortgage availability and property values.
But in his first quarterly report for 2008, Mr. Hamer reveals an 86 per cent rise in cases investigated that concerned complaints involving residential lettings compared with the last quarter of 2007.
"In a time when many people are feeling more than usual stress over finding and keeping a home it's important that all parties co-operate with each other and try to avoid needless difficulties arising."
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