The Office of Fair Trading has launched an investigation into the ‘quick house sale’ market amid concerns firms are unfairly targeting vulnerable people who are in financial difficulty, with 50 firms operating in the sector being asked to provide information on their models and practices.
Quick house sale providers offer to buy a house or find a third party buyer on a very quick turnaround, with the trade-off being that the purchase price is a significant discount from the full market value.
The OFT said that while providers may offer a “valuable service” to some, it is concerned that some practices might lead to homeowners receiving much less for their property than it is worth and that alternatives in many cases could be more appropriate. It said losses could be “very high”.
The regulator is particularly concerned about the risks to people in financial difficulty, including those who have worked up large amounts of debt or are facing repossession. Consumers at risk may also include those who need to sell their property quickly following a relationship breakdown or the elderly, who might need money to pay for their care, it added.
Practices that would give rise to concern include unclear fee structures, reducing the price offered at the last minute, making misleading claims about the value of the property or the level of discount applied to the sale, and falsely claiming to be a cash buyer.
The OFT has asked over 50 quick house sale firms to provide information on their business models and practices and would welcome evidence from people with experience of this sector, including valuation experts, estate agents, debt advisors and home owners.
Cavendish Elithorn, OFT senior director for goods and consumer, said: “Businesses offering quick house sales may provide a useful service for homeowners who need to unlock cash in a hurry.
“However, they are often used by consumers in vulnerable situations and therefore we are concerned about the risk of consumers being misled and losing out on large sums of money.
“We want to hear from anyone who has used a quick house sale provider, whether they have had a good or bad experience with the business. We will protect the confidence of anyone who contacts us and their information will be invaluable in helping us to build up a picture of the market and establish whether we need to take action.”
Christopher Woolard, director of policy, risk and research at the Financial Conduct Authority, added: “This market study is an important piece of work that will explore current practices in the market and, where necessary, make recommendations to improve outcomes for these vulnerable consumers.
“We will continue to work with the OFT and others to address any concerns in this market.”
