agents (Foxtons) lying about location

kcseb

OK admittedly it doesn't affect me as I know what I'm looking for (small time BTL guy and I do my research), but is there any recourse for Foxtons mislabelling where properties are? For unsuspecting victims about to get on the ladder, it's so unscrupulous to dupe people like that on the biggest purchase of their lives. It's also part of the reason prices are rising so fast in upto now 'undesirable' areas, it just isn't a healthy practice.

There's one they've listed now in East London, they're listing it as being in an area which is a good mile away (and far more expensive, esp. because of Crossrail). I mean it's not even stretching the truth, it's an outright lie.

Recourse to complain...Right Move, NAEA, Foxtons themselves?

thequant

kcseb wrote: »

OK admittedly it doesn't affect me as I know what I'm looking for (small time BTL guy and I do my research), but is there any recourse for Foxtons mislabelling where properties are? For unsuspecting victims about to get on the ladder, it's so unscrupulous to dupe people like that on the biggest purchase of their lives. It's also part of the reason prices are rising so fast in upto now 'undesirable' areas, it just isn't a healthy practice.

There's one they've listed now in East London, they're listing it as being in an area which is a good mile away (and far more expensive, esp. because of Crossrail). I mean it's not even stretching the truth, it's an outright lie.

Recourse to complain...Right Move, NAEA, Foxtons themselves?

I think any prospective buyers will realise where it is, if they take that radical step of viewing the property before buying it.

kcseb

Yes but the problem is they're cajoling people into living areas that they don't really want to. You could argue they're broadening their horizons and any idiot can read a map, but actually they're trying to get them to pay more than the going rate for the TRUE area. It's really not on

Excited13

It's not just Foxtons. I live in an area where this is rife where they try dressing up ex council houses as being in a much prestigious area. I do think for people out of the area may be taken in but it's all about research.

phoebe1989seb

Blooming Foxtons.....grrrrr, have recently warned DS to steer clear of them when selling his flat

I was unaware that EAs could do this though - I know that when we were selling our last house (Essex) in a location (a specific and relatively desirable estate) that happened to fall within the confines of a less-than-desirable area (nearest village), we specifically asked our (small independent) EA if the house could be listed on RM without the name of that specific location but instead with the name of nearest town (within two miles) but we were told it was impossible to play with the facts on RM.......:o

Maybe things have changed since 2011......

princeofpounds

You can log a trading standards complaint. They won't investigate it as a standalone complaint but when they get a critical mass of complaints and evidence then they sometimes do crack down on firms. (They did this round my way with EA advertising boards)

anselld

phoebe1989seb wrote: »

Blooming Foxtons.....grrrrr, have recently warned DS to steer clear of them when selling his flat

I was unaware that EAs could do this though - I know that when we were selling our last house (Essex) in a location (a specific and relatively desirable estate) that happened to fall within the confines of a less-than-desirable area (nearest village), we specifically asked our (small independent) EA if the house could be listed on RM without the name of that specific location but instead with the name of nearest town (within two miles) but we were told it was impossible to play with the facts on RM.......:o

Maybe things have changed since 2011......

So, you wanted to manipulate the location description to improve the marketing of your property .... but you don't like Foxtons doing so! Hmmmm.

seven-day-weekend

Our area is very regularly listed as the most desirable area in our city when it's actually half a mile down the road and less desirable (but same postcode). I thought it was standard house marketing.

chanz4

kcseb wrote: »

OK admittedly it doesn't affect me as I know what I'm looking for (small time BTL guy and I do my research), but is there any recourse for Foxtons mislabelling where properties are? For unsuspecting victims about to get on the ladder, it's so unscrupulous to dupe people like that on the biggest purchase of their lives. It's also part of the reason prices are rising so fast in upto now 'undesirable' areas, it just isn't a healthy practice.

There's one they've listed now in East London, they're listing it as being in an area which is a good mile away (and far more expensive, esp. because of Crossrail). I mean it's not even stretching the truth, it's an outright lie.

Recourse to complain...Right Move, NAEA, Foxtons themselves?

Btl is what's put prices up

phill99

A houses location has always been dependent on whether you are buying or selling.

Tancred

kcseb wrote: »

OK admittedly it doesn't affect me as I know what I'm looking for (small time BTL guy and I do my research), but is there any recourse for Foxtons mislabelling where properties are? For unsuspecting victims about to get on the ladder, it's so unscrupulous to dupe people like that on the biggest purchase of their lives. It's also part of the reason prices are rising so fast in upto now 'undesirable' areas, it just isn't a healthy practice.

There's one they've listed now in East London, they're listing it as being in an area which is a good mile away (and far more expensive, esp. because of Crossrail). I mean it's not even stretching the truth, it's an outright lie.

Recourse to complain...Right Move, NAEA, Foxtons themselves?

All estate agents do this. Get real and stop moaning.