All references to the masculine include the feminine, and to the singular include the plural.
Join the Scheme
Overview
The OEA currently deals with redress for residential estate agents and residential letting agents. When joining the OEA and in order to remove confusion for consumers all offices trading under the same company or brand name are required to join. Head offices and administrative offices that do not deal directly with consumers need to register, but will not be charged.
Residential Sales
Includes automatic registration for HIPs as required by the Housing Act 2004.
In September 2005, OEA received full approval for our Code of Practice for Residential Estate Agency work, by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) under the OFT Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS). This means that Estate Agents that have signed up to our Scheme are expected to display the OFT's Approved Code Logo alongside the OEA Logo. Members will also be listed on the OFT website.
Lettings and Property Management.
As from June 2006, OEA extended its service to Lettings and Property Management Estate Agents.
Combined Sales and Lettings
Includes automatic registration for HIPs as required by the Housing Act 2004.
HIPs only registration.
Home Information Packs are compulsory for all homes being marketed for sale in England and Wales. The Home Information Pack duties apply to the person responsible for marketing the home; this will usually be an estate agent. Estate agents in England and Wales who act for sellers of properties that require Home Information Packs are required to join an approved redress scheme as required under the Housing Act 2004.
To apply for membership there are different routes, listed below:
RICS Members
Please submit the following:
- A completed application form
- A cheque for the fee (fees are for each office)
NFoPP/NAEA Members
The NAEA requires its members (Principal, Partners and Directors) to be full members of the OEA for Sales and Lettings or another approved redress scheme. If you have not joined a scheme you should do so now.
Please submit the following:
- A completed application form indicating the type of membership you are applying for as listed above
- A cheque for the fees (fees are for each office)
Direct Members
If you are not a member of either the RICS or the NAEA then you will be joining as a Direct Member.
Please submit the following:
- A completed application form indicating the type of membership you are applying for as listed above
- A cheque for the fees (fees are for each office)
- A copy of your Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance
- Either two professional references (from any of the following: accountant, solicitor, bank manager) or verification of identity by two of the following i.e. copy of your passport or driving licence and a copy of a company utility bill less than three months old.
Fees for 2008
| Membership Type | Annual Fee excluding VAT | Total Payable including VAT |
| Residential Sales (incl. HIPs) One off Registration fee |
£120.00 £20.00 |
£141.00 £23.50 |
| Total | £140.00 | £164.50 |
| Lettings and Property Management One off Registration Fee |
£120.00 £20.00 |
£141.00 £23.50 |
| Total | £140.00 | £164.00 |
| Combined Sales and Lettings (incl. HIPs) One off Registration Fee |
£200.00 £20.00 |
£235.00 £23.50 |
| Total | £220.00 | £258.50 |
Cheques should be made payable to 'the Ombudsman for Estate Agents Company Ltd'
To register for HIPs only please submit the following:
- A completed application form indicating that you are only registering for HIPs
- A cheque for the fee (fees are for each office)
- A copy of your Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance.
- Either two professional references (from any of the following: accountant, solicitor, bank manager) or verification of identity by two of the following i.e. copy of your passport or driving licence and a copy of a company utility bill less than three months old
Fees for 2008
| Membership Type | Excluding VAT | Total Payable including VAT |
| Annual Fee (per office) One off Registration Fee (per office) |
£100.00 £20.00 |
£117.50 £23.50 |
| Total | £120.00 | £141.00 |
If your agency is a franchise or even if only part of it is, for membership purposes, we expect the franchisor to control all aspects of OEA Membership, which includes collecting fees and acting as a central point of contact. All owned offices/franchises trading under the same company or brand name are required to join.
Please submit the following:
Franchisor Membership Requirements
- A completed application form with details of all franchised and owned offices
- Franchisor agreement (Section H)
- A cheque for the fee (fees are for each office)
- If not an NAEA or RICS members then either two professional references (from any of the following: accountant, solicitor, bank manager) or verification of identity by two of the following i.e. copy of your passport or driving licence and a copy of a company utility bill less than three months old
- A copy of your Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance, if not an NAEA or RICS member
Franchisee Membership Requirements
Each franchised office to provide the following:
- A completed application form with details of all offices owned by the franchisee
- A copy of their Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance, if not an NAEA or RICS member. In some cases, the franchisor holds PI insurance which covers all franchisees then the franchisee will need to submit a copy of this if not already done so by the franchisor
OEA require agents to hold PI cover with a minimum of £100,000 and with an excess of no more than £1,000. If your excess is more than £1,000 then you are required to add the OEA endorsement.
OEA Endorsement: Professional Indemnity Insurance
Completed Applications
Please send your completed application to:
The Ombudsman for Estate Agents
Membership Department
Beckett House
4 Bridge Street
Salisbury SP1 2LX
Tel: 01722 333306
email: membership@oea.co.uk