Initial Consultation Exercise - Estate Agents and Landlords Bill 2012

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the Department of Social Care (DSC) are currently progressing the Estate Agents and Landlords Bill 2012 (Bill). The purpose of this initial consultation exercise is to outline a number of significant issues and broad proposals pertaining to the registration and regulation of estate agents and to gather information, views and evidence from the public and other interested parties as part of the consultation process.

The purpose of the Bill, which is included within the Council of Minister’s legislative programme for 2012/13, is to make fresh provision for the registration and regulation of estate agents and to provide for the registration and regulation of private landlords.

The registration and regulation of estate agents is currently provided for in the Estate Agents Act 1975 (1975 Act) and the secondary legislation made under the 1975 Act. A copy of the 1975 Act together with a copy of the Estate Agents Act 1999 (not in force) can be obtained from the Tynwald Library and guidance on the Estate Agents Rules (consolidated) can be obtained from the OFT. There is currently no legislation providing for the registration and regulation of private landlords.

Please note the OFT will consult further and in more detail once the Bill has been drafted.

If you wish to request a copy of the estate agents consultation paper** please contact:

Research and Development Section, Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading, Government Building, Lord Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 1LE

Tel: (01624) 686576

Fax: (01624) 686504

Email: iomfairtrading@gov.im

Comments should be submitted in writing by post, fax or email no later than 5.00pm on Friday 27 April 2012.

Notes

Electronic copies of this document are also available at www.gov.im/oft.

** Please note this paper only focuses on the registration and regulation of estate agents. Please see the DSC’s website (www.gov.im/dsc) and separate media release for information relating to the proposed registration and regulation of private landlords.