Martin & Co Canterbury helps landlords and tenants make SAFE choices

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09th July 2011

Martin & Co Canterbury helps landlords and tenants make SAFE choices

Martin & Co has become the first lettings agency in Canterbury to support a new industry initiative aimed at raising standards in the private rented sector.

Martin & Co – based in Watling Street, Canterbury – is now a designated SAFEagent. SAFE (Safe Agent Fully Endorsed) is a voluntary kitemark denoting firms that protect landlords’ and tenants’ funds through a client money protection scheme.

Director David Anthony says: “Landlords often make decisions on placing their business with a lettings agency based on management charges, but it can end up costing them more than they bargained for if the agency shuts down and disappears with the contents of the client account! Our SAFEagent status reassures landlords that their money is kept completely separate from the operating funds of the firm.”

SAFEagent status offers safeguards for tenants too. David says: “A staggering one million private renters in the UK have been the victim of scams perpetrated by unscrupulous letting agents and landlords. The SAFEagent initiative helps tenants to make safe choices when they are looking for private rented accommodation knowing that their deposit will be protected. If an agent does not display the new kitemark, tenants are potentially at risk.”

Nick Cooper, Chair of the SAFE Steering Group, adds: “We are delighted that Martin & Co and other lettings agents across the country have understood what we are trying to achieve and have signed up to SAFE. It demonstrates that there is a clear demand for additional safeguards and this new kitemark is already going a long way to satisfy it. SAFEagent represents a huge leap forward in the effort to eliminate the potential threat posed by ‘uninsured’ agents operating in the private rented sector without the need for Government intervention. We look forward to seeing many more agents making the positive move to register.”

Established in 1986 and launched as a franchise in 1995, Martin & Co is now one of the UK’s leading residential lettings and property management chains. The company has over 170 branches throughout the UK operated by business owners with an expertise in their respective local markets. Martin & Co has been recognised as the Best Large Letting Chain three years in succession, scooping Gold in 2009 and Silver in 2010 and 2011 in the Estate Agent & Letting Agent Awards.