A COMPANY has been launched in Horwich to help solicitors operate as an estate agent.

Lawyers Property Group was created after its director Craig Rotherham said he had his fingers burnt by numerous ‘less than professional' London lettings agents.

Entry into the property sales and lettings business is open to anyone and no formal qualifications or experience is required.

Mr Rotheram said that when you give an estate agent responsibility for the sale of your house you cannot be sure if they are qualified or reputable.

Lawyers Property Group helps carefully selected firms of solicitors to sell and let homes.

Solicitors and law firms are bound by the principles and the code of conduct of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

This provides consumer protection from malpractice and mismanagement and covers the law firm’s activities in the housing market.

Mr Rotheram said: "Buying, selling and letting homes is stressful and risky.

“People want to work with someone they can trust: someone local and professional. Solicitors can become a trusted one-stop-shop covering every step from listing to completion. We’re talking about the biggest transaction in most people’s lives."

In Scotland, property law is different, and law firms commonly operate as the selling or letting agent.

Mr Rotherham said that the number of problems reported north of the border is 'significantly lower'.

He added: "Simply put, it's time to do property properly."

Last month, estate agent Timothy Shinners, who worked at Platinum Properties in Horwich, was jailed for three years after he was caught defrauding his business partner out of thousands of pounds.

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