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ALMO’s letting agency being investigated by its own council
A lettings and estate agency owned by a London ALMO is being investigated by its own council’s trading standards department.
CityWest Residential is a subsidiary of CityWest Homes, which manages 21,000 units on behalf of Westminster City Council.
The authority confirmed it was taking action against the company for breaches of the Consumer Rights Act, but said it could not comment further.
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Oliver Miller, director of CityWest Residential, said: “We can confirm that Westminster City Council has issued a notice of intent for technical infringements of the Consumer Rights Act on our website. We will respond to the notice within the formal process.
“In the meantime, we are working alongside the Guild of Property Professionals to ensure our website is fully compliant.”
CityWest Homes was the first ALMO to launch a lettings agency in 2009.
CityWest Residential now handles lettings and sales for private landlords across the borough, including those previously owned by the council.
A proportion of the agency’s profits are channelled back into Westminster City Council to help pay for more affordable housing.
The CityWest Homes website says the company is “committed to exceptional service and dedicated to reinvesting in the local communities where we operate”.
It charges £258 in tenancy set-up fees, as well as £42 in reference fees, £162 for inventory fees in a one-bedroom property, £102 in guarantor fees among other charges including a holding deposit of up to £500.
