Leamington Spa Estate Agent Prosecuted for Misleading Website
Stephen Parry and Company Ltd, a Leamington Spa based estate agent has been successfully prosecuted after making misleading statements on their website, Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards has announced
In 2015, the business’website had falsely stated that Stephen Parry and Company Limited were members of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers (NAVA).
One of the company’s directors, Mr Stephen Parry, had previously been a Fellow of both Associations but his membership lapsed in 2013.
Members of these bodies are governed by professional standard ‘Codes of Practice’ and such a statement could have influencedconsumers in their choice of estate agency. This is why it is so important that websites remain accurate.
Warwickshire Trading Standardsbrought the prosecution after the business did not heed repeated requests to amend their website.
Warwickshire County Councillor John Horner, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: “When so much of our shopping is now carried out online, it is more important than ever that websites offering goods and services are accurate and consumers can have confidence in the information they provide and the claims they make.”
Warwickshire County Councillor Philip Johnson, Chair of the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, added:“Warwickshire Trading Standards work with local businesses to help ensure that their websites are accurate. However, when businesses continue to make misleading statements, more serious enforcement action is sometimes required.”
David Oliver, Head of Regulation at the National Federation of Property Professionals said:“We are the body responsible for ensuring that members of NAEA and NAVA maintain high standards of practice. When businesses claim to be members of these organisations when they are not, it is detrimental to all those who are genuine members.
The National Federation of Property Professionals (NFoPP) promotes the highest standards of professionalism and integrity among those working within the property industry, and encourages members of the public to proactively seek out our members when involved in any kind of property transaction.
NFoPP Regulation is responsible for ensuring NAEA, ARLA, ICBA, NAVA and APIP members maintain high standards of practice and can impose sanctions on any member found to have breached NFoPP Regulation's rules”.
At Nuneaton Magistrates Court on Tuesday 2nd August 2016, Stephen Parry and Company Ltd pleaded guilty to two offences of engaging in a commercial practice which was a misleading action under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Representing the company, Mr Saunders highlighted that company director Mr Parry was in fact the first ever student member of the National Association of Estate Agents and has previously been a member of the NAEA and the NAVA. Mr Parry has a degree in Estate Management and is a very experienced estate agent.
The company was fined £1000 in total for both offences and ordered to pay £1,911 costs and a £100 victim surcharge, a total of £3,011.
The business’ website has now been updated.
ENDS
1)Misha Martin represented Warwickshire County Council
2) Mr Kevin Saunders, Counsel represented Stephen Parry and Company Ltd
For further information:
Simon Cripwell, Trading Standards Officer: 01926 738987 or 07771 97 55 70.