Trading Standards Investigations into Lettings Agents and Property Managers

The request was successful.

Dear Birmingham City Council,

Would you please supply the following information under the Freedom of Information Act.

The number of trading standards investigations carried out in relation to letting agents and property management companies in the past 5 years. If the number of investigations is less than 15, please extend the period to 10 years.

With the data please expand using the following criteria:

What was the exact nature of those investigations and outcome on a case by case basis and who were the alleged offending agents involved in those cases. With this in mind please clarify the investigations using the following format taking note of the examples.

Date: xx/xxxx
Company: ABC Agents
Offence/s: Breach of section xx of xxxx Act /Reg xxxx
Nature of Offence: Misleading action/Omission/Money Laundering/Failure to Register for Redress Scheme
Action Taken: Warning Issued/Court Proceedings Taken (Outcome)/ Referred to Police/SFO/CMA/ Or Relevant comment

Date: xx/xxxx
Company: (Under Investigation)
Offence/s: Breach of section xx of xxxx Act /Reg xxxx
Nature of Offence: Misleading action/Omission/Money Laundering/Failure to Register for Redress Scheme
Action Taken: Under Investigation/Proceeding With Court Case/Referred to Police/SFO/CMA/Or Relevant Comment

It is understood that disclosure of any company’s details is not covered by the DPA and therefore cannot be withheld unless there is a current ongoing investigation (not outstanding due to disapeearance) against the company. In stating this exception only applies to ongoing investigations and does not preclude the company being named relating to previous investigations. If there is an ongoing investigation then please indicate the investigation type and omit the company’s name.

Finally, the release of this information is in the public interest and appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Yours Sincerely,

M Doyle

Birmingham City Council

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Information request
Our reference: 578136

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Birmingham City Council

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 Dear Sir
 
Further to your request below in relation to letting agents and property
management companies we have been asked to seek some clarification in
regards to this request.  
 
Can you please provide clarification of what you mean by the
term 'investigations'.  If you can please be more precise on the sort of
information you require it will enable us to search our records
accordingly.
 
Your request will now be put on hold while we await your clarification on
this matter.
 
Kind Regards
 
Regulation and Enforcement FOI Team
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information request
Our reference: 578136

show quoted sections

Birmingham City Council

[1]Logo
 Dear Sir
 
Further to your request below in relation to letting agents and property
management companies we have been asked to seek some clarification in
regards to this request.  
 
Can you please provide clarification of what you mean by the
term 'investigations'.  If you can please be more precise on the sort of
information you require it will enable us to search our records
accordingly.
 
Your request will now be put on hold while we await your clarification on
this matter.
 
Kind Regards
 
Regulation and Enforcement FOI Team
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information request
Our reference: 578136

show quoted sections

Dear Birmingham City Council,
The Collins Dictionary cites the following meaning

"The act or process of investigating; a careful search or examination in order to discover facts, a careful search or examination; systematic inquiry. "

Example; The party being questioned were being deliberately obtuse in their responses during an investigation into their own and others previous and related activities

In this case the term investigation means that Trading Standards and or Council received a complaint relating to actions or misleading omissions in breach of regulations and acts (please cite regulation and or act breach with sections) covering consumer protection that was subsequently acted upon and "Investigated" by Trading Standards to further verify and pursue the complaint and take resulting action.

The investigation outcome can be anything from no action taken due to lack of evidence or warning letter sent, prosecution carried out and or fine imposed, matter referred to other organisation such as CMA/SFO/Police or other organisation that can take legal action and or issue penalties.(ombudsman has no power to prosecute or impose any penalty outside mediatory redress). The outcome summarisation of the investigation.

For an example of a reasoned and effective reply, see the Leicester response

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/t...

Yours sincerely,

Mark Doyle

Birmingham City Council

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Information request
Our reference: 578136

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