Gibbs Gillespie Receives ARLA Licensing Status

Date: 22nd September 2009

Leading residential property group, Gibbs Gillespie Estate Agents, has just received licensing status from ARLA (the Association of Residential Letting Agents), as part of ARLA's new scheme to protect consumers' interests and establish the highest standards for letting agents in the UK.

This sets us truly apart from other letting businesses because licensing is only available to individual ARLA qualified members, and in future, licensed agents must:

• undertake continuing professional development
• ensure they have client money protection schemes in place to protect all tenant and landlord funds held by their office
• allow an annual independent audit of all clients' funds
• have professional indemnity insurance
• sign up to an independent redress scheme
• abide by a strict Code of Practice

"Gibbs Gillespie's big advantage is that we have put many people through ARLA training over the years - so that means we now have more licensed individuals than any typical local letting agent," says Director Paul Gillespie.  "Many customers don't realise the risk involved in using unregulated, unlicensed agents, who are simply unable to deliver the same levels of qualified staff, reliable service and peace of mind as a licensed agent like ourselves. It sends out a clear message to Landlords and tenants that we are a professional company that can be trusted to look after them."

Gibbs Gillespie Estate Agents has operated in Middlesex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire for almost 20 years and is also a fully regulated member of the TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme) and the Ombudsman for Lettings.

For further media information please call Jo Ryan on 020 8869 9863.