Estate agent ordered to pay £4,000 bill after breaking law

A court has ordered estate agent Foxtons Ltd to pay more than £4,000 in fines and costs for failing to give accurate information about a property for sale.

Magistrates heard that a would-be buyer had been interested in buying a home in Hackney through the firm's branch at 355-357 Upper Street, Islington.

But the estate agent did not tell the buyer that the £450,000 property was designated not as residential, but as "work/live" - to be used as part-business, part-residential.

At a late stage the buyer discovered the property was "work/live" and that they faced a £20,000 bill for planning covenants to convert the property to solely residential use.

They pulled out of the sale, having already run up conveyancing fees in excess of £600.

A complaint was made to Trading Standards in Hackney, who referred the case to Islington Council.

At Highbury Magistrates' Court Foxtons Ltd, of Building One, Chiswick Park, 566 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 5BE admitted an offence under section 1 of the Property Misdescription Act 1991, was fined £3667, and ordered to pay £680 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Foxtons Ltd has also agreed to pay the conveyancing fees run up by the would-be buyer.

Cllr Greg Foxsmith, Islington Council's executive member for environment, said: "We don't like taking local businesses to court and would much rather avoid it.

"But we have a duty to make sure the consumer rights of our residents, businesses and others are protected.

"If necessary, this will include legal action against businesses who break the law, and it was right that we acted in this case."

The case was heard on Tuesday, November 3.