Property Retailer

A Property Retailer is a UK term defined by the Office of Fair Trading to describe the services of an organisation marketing property for sale, but not offering Estate Agency services. Property Retailers are usually online based. Estate Agents in the UK are regulated by the Office of Fair Trading/The Property Ombudsman, and there is also legislation relating to property descriptions and procedures which must be adhered to. Estate Agent services include fielding enquiries on behalf of sellers, arranging appointments and viewings, and handling negotiations. The Office of Fair Trading make a point of stating that some Property Retailers may actually be acting as Estate Agents and could therefore be breaking the law relating to the provision of Estate Agency Services. There are now a huge number of property websites often set up quite cheaply as a sideline. Many offer a service by charging a one off fee.