How we are regulated and how your money is protected

Client Money Protection (CMP)

Client money protection is designed to compensate clients if an agent misappropriates money it holds on their behalf, subject to the scheme's terms. EKIN is a member of the UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA) and holds a certificate under the UKALA Total Loss CMP scheme, approved in England by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Our certificate confirms membership since 22 September 2026, under the scheme category for agents holding less than £5 million in client money.

Like any protection scheme, CMP is subject to the scheme's terms and conditions, including eligibility, limits and exclusions, and it is not a guarantee that every loss will be recovered. The full terms are published by UKALA, and we will explain how they apply to your building on request.

UKALA has confirmed that its scheme can cover block management funds, including service charges and reserve funds, provided they are held in a client account and declared in our annual audit. Membership can be verified through National Trading Standards.

View the UKALA CMP certificate (PDF)

How client money is held

• Service charge and reserve fund money is held on trust for the leaseholders, as required by section 42 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987.
• It is kept in a client bank account with a UK high-street bank, separate from EKIN's own money.
• Every client account is reconciled at least monthly, with the reconciliation reviewed by a second person, and the position is reported to directors.
• No client money is used to pay EKIN's fees until they are properly due under the management agreement.

Redress scheme

Anyone doing property management work in England must belong to a government-approved redress scheme. EKIN is a member of the Property Redress Scheme, membership PRS057065. If you are not satisfied with how we have handled a complaint, you can refer it to the scheme free of charge once our own procedure has been completed.

View the Property Redress Scheme certificate (PDF)

Data protection

EKIN is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office, reference ZC083906, and handles leaseholder data in line with UK GDPR. See our privacy policy.

Standards we work to

The RICS Service Charge Residential Management Code (4th edition, effective 7 April 2026) is approved by the government, and the First-tier Tribunal takes it into account when looking at how a building has been managed, whether or not the agent is an RICS member. We use it as the reference point for how we manage buildings, alongside the legal requirements set out on our service pages.

The future of regulation

The government has confirmed its intention to regulate managing agents, starting with mandatory professional qualifications, and consulted on this in 2025. We welcome it. Clear standards protect leaseholders and good agents alike.

If something goes wrong

Tell us first. Our complaints procedure sets out how we acknowledge, investigate and respond. If you remain dissatisfied, you can escalate to the Property Redress Scheme.

Last reviewed 2026-09-23 against the sources listed. This page is general information about England and is not legal advice; the lease for your building always comes first.