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UPDATES: London Trading Standards is warning renters about a growing property scam targeting those seeking bargain rents. Fraudsters are pressuring would-be tenants to pay deposits or rent upfront for properties that don’t exist, using fake documents and disappearing agents. With losses running into thousands, LTS urges renters to stay vigilant as enforcement action and new tenant protections gather pace ...

UPDATES: Fraudsters are exploiting London's competitive rental market with convincing fake property listings and bogus tenancy paperwork. Trading Standards is urging prospective tenants to stay alert as reports of the scam continue to mount.

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UPDATES: A Hammersmith & Fulham resident was targeted by a suspected rogue roofer who ramped up a £700 quote to £7,000 and applied relentless pressure for payment. After Trading Standards stepped in, the trader vanished. This case highlights how doorstep scams operate and how quick action can stop victims losing even more money ...

UPDATES: A routine roofing repair escalated into an alleged rogue trading scam that left a resident facing a vastly inflated bill. The successful prosecution highlights the importance of reporting high-pressure doorstep practices and protecting vulnerable consumers.

UPDATES: A prosecution over unsafe powered gates reinforces the importance of meeting safety obligations and the potentially serious consequences when standards fall short.

UPDATES: A landmark Trading Standards prosecution has seen five rogue letting agents jailed and banned after exploiting vulnerable tenants, exposing the scale and complexity of organised housing fraud.

UPDATES: A Somerset letting agent has been fined £10,000 after failing to protect client money, underlining the legal safeguards designed to protect landlords and tenants in the private rented sector.

UPDATES: A Tower Hamlets investigation has secured convictions against rogue letting agents who used multiple company names to exploit international students and workers through misleading adverts, unprotected deposits and unlawful rental practices.

UPDATES: London Trading Standards Week spotlights the fight against rogue landlords and letting agents, promoting a reporting service that helps private renters enforce their rights while supporting enforcement action across the capital.

UPDATES: A Belfast estate agent has pleaded guilty to an offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 after failing to inform a consumer that he was a member of a property redress scheme. Desmond McGranaghan (59), trading as...

UPDATES: Consumer Scotland has begun a wide-ranging review of the domestic energy-efficiency market, seeking evidence of misleading practices, weak consumer protections and barriers to confidence as millions of homes prepare for the transition to cleaner heating.

UPDATES: Cornwall Trading Standards is warning residents about doorstep jet-washing traders who lure homeowners with free demonstrations before pressuring them into paying vastly inflated prices, with older people believed to be among those most frequently targeted.

UPDATES: Two fraudulent letting agents who stole deposits, rents and holding fees worth more than £24,000 have been sentenced after a Trading Standards and National Trading Standards investigation exposed a long-running rental scam.

ANALYSIS: As soaring rents and shrinking supply place unprecedented pressure on tenants, this feature examines the consumer protection challenges emerging across the private rented sector and the increasingly important role of Trading Standards in tackling poor practice.

UPDATES: Consumer Code for Home Builders has appointed regulation specialist Claire Whyley to its Board, strengthening consumer representation as the organisation implements recommendations from its independent Code review.

UPDATES: Revised consumer codes for the home-building sector aim to improve consistency, strengthen protection for buyers and raise standards across the new homes market.

UPDATES: A property maintenance director has been prosecuted after falsely displaying recognised trade accreditation logos and claiming membership of certification schemes. The case highlights how misleading endorsements can distort competition and undermine consumer confidence.

UPDATES: The Consumer Code for Home Builders celebrates five years as a CTSI Approved Code after another successful audit, with independent reviewers and auditors recognising its commitment to continual improvement and stronger consumer protection.

UPDATES: The Property Ombudsman has appointed Louise Baxter, CTSI Lead Officer for Consumer Advice and Education, as a non-executive director of its...

OPINION: The one thing we can all be certain of is change. Whether it’s a change in regulations, customer needs, availability...