Complaints Handling Procedure
Howards is a member of The Property Ombudsman Scheme (TPOS) and we aim to provide the highest standards of service to all our customers. To ensure that your interests are safeguarded, we have a Complaints Process.
The aim of this process is to resolve any issues or concerns as quickly as possible, although in the majority of cases we hope that matters such as these are resolved at branch level.
Please find below our guidance for making a complaint in relation to:
This would be if you are buying or selling a property with one of our branches.
This would be if you are a Landlord letting your property with us with either a Let only, a Rent Collect or a Fully Managed Service or a Tenant renting a property with us.
Residential Estate Agency - making a complaint
Stage One – Branch Manager/Area Partner
All complaints in the first instance should be directed to the Manager of the Branch or if you wish the Area Partner for the Branch you have been dealing with. Your complaint will be acknowledged within 3 working days. They will endeavor to resolve your complaint immediately, and no later than 5 working days of the first notification.
Stage Two – Divisional Estate Agency Director
If you remain dissatisfied, you may further your complaint, which must be in writing, to the Estate Agency Director responsible for the branch in question. You must write to the EA Director within one month of receiving the Stage 1 response. The Branch Manager/Area Partner can provide you with details of who to contact.
The EA Director will acknowledge your complaint within 3 workings days of receipt of the email/letter and provide you with a full written response within 15 working days.
Stage Three - Customer Relations Manager
If you remain dissatisfied, you may address your concerns, in writing, to the Customer Relations Manager (CRM) within one month of the response from the Divisional Estate Agency Director. Your email/letter will be acknowledged within 3 working days of receipt and you will be provided with a final view written response on behalf of the Company within 15 working days of receipt of your email/letter. Your complaint should be sent to:
Mrs Anne Boylan (Please only address correspondence to Anne Boylan if you are a Buyer or Seller. Landlords or Tenants, please see below section)
EA Customer Relations Manager
Spicerhaart Head Office
Colwyn House
Sheepen Place
Colchester
CO3 3LD
Or by email to EAcustomer.relations@spicerhaart.co.uk - (Do not use this email if you are a Tenant or Landlord, please see below)
Stage Four - The Property Ombudsman (TPOS)
After you have received a response from the Customer Relations Manager, you may approach the Ombudsman if you are not satisfied with the response given. Details of how to do this are contained within the final viewpoint letter, the TPOS Consumer Guide, or online at www.tpos.co.uk. Please note, you must do so within twelve months of the date of the final letter. TPOS will not consider your complaint until our internal procedures are exhausted.
Residential Lettings & Property Management - making a complaint
We are a member of The Property Ombudsman Service and we aim to provide the highest standards of service to all our Residential Lettings and Property Management customers.
In order to ensure that your interests are safeguarded, we have put into place a complaints procedure which we will follow in dealing with your complaint and which is in line with The Property Ombudsman’s Code of Practice. Our aim is to handle any issues or concerns as quickly as possible; in order to achieve this we will, wherever we can, try and resolve your issues at Branch level or within the Property Management Team.
Stage 1 – Area Director or Property Management Area Director
All complaints should, in the first instance, be directed to the Manager of the Branch or the Property Management Manager of the Property Management Team you have been dealing with. Your complaint will be acknowledged within 3 working days of receipt and following a full investigation you will receive a written response within 15 working days.
Stage 2 - Company Final View Point – Lettings Director or Property Management Director
If you remain dissatisfied you may escalate your complaint by emailing Lettingscustomer.relations@spicerhaart.co.uk, or by writing to the address below, whereby your complaint will be referred to the Lettings Director or Property Management Director. Your complaint will be acknowledged within 3 working days of receipt and following a full investigation you will receive a written response on behalf of the Company within 15 working days.
Lettings Customer Relations
Residential Lettings
Colwyn House
Sheepen Place
Colchester
CO3 3LD
We will acknowledge your escalated complaint within 3 working days. A full review of the complaint will be undertaken, including how it has been handled to date, which may include further investigations into the background of the concerns.
Within 15 working days from receipt of the escalation, the findings and recommendations will set out, in writing, as a ‘final viewpoint’ on how it is believed the complaint can be resolved.
Stage 3 – The Property Ombudsman
After you have received the company’s final viewpoint, as outlined above, and are still not satisfied with the proposed resolution, you may approach The Property Ombudsman Service (TPOS).
Details of how to do this are contained within the final view point letter alongside a link to the TPOS consumer guide at www.tpos.co.uk. If you wish to contact TPOS, it must be done within 12 months of the date of the final viewpoint letter. It is also important to note that TPOS will not consider a complaint for review until our internal complaints procedure has been exhausted.