Local Estate Agents Banned

---

Former Lawson & Daughters employees guilty of deception

Two former employees of Hammersmith estate agents Lawson & Daughters, have received prohibition orders from The Office of Fair Trading.

Christopher Taylor and Harunur Rashid, have been banned from engaging in estate agency work after both men pleaded guilty to obtaining property by deception in court. The offences related to their retaining rental fees on properties which had been sub-let without the landlords' knowledge.

The OFT took the decision to ban Mr Taylor and Mr Rashid following receipt of information about previous convictions. OFT director of consumer regulation and enforcement Christine Wade said "Whether buying or letting a property, consumers need to be able to rely on the trustworthiness of their estate agent. If an agent engages in any form of fraudulent conduct, the OFT will not hesitate to take action to prevent them working in the profession."

The ban will not come into effect until their appeal's process is finalized.

May 24, 2006