A review of 200 letting agency websites by The Letting Partnership (24 March 2026) found that 62% fail to display valid Client Money Protection (CMP) certificates. CMP is a legal requirement designed to safeguard tenant deposits and landlord funds held in trust. Only 38% of agents showed clearly visible, valid certification. The findings raise serious questions about compliance culture across the sector.

What the Compliance Gap Means for Your Deposits

Client Money Protection is the financial safety net that protects deposits and held funds if an agent goes bust or mishandles money. Trading Standards can fine agencies up to £5,000 for failing to display valid CMP certification. Yet nearly two in three websites reviewed failed to meet this basic requirement (The Letting Partnership, 24 March 2026).

For landlords, this matters because your tenancy deposits sit in trust accounts managed by your agent. If an agent lacks proper CMP coverage and collapses, your money may not be recoverable. For tenants, unclear certification suggests the agent may be cutting corners elsewhere - on deposit returns, dispute handling, or communication. Both sides of the tenancy rely on this protection working properly.

Chris Mason, COO of The Letting Partnership, noted that compliance work "happens behind the scenes and isn't always visible to landlords and tenants" (Letting Agent Today, 24 March 2026). That invisibility is precisely the problem. An agent can claim excellent compliance practices internally whilst showing nothing on their public-facing site. That site is often the only thing landlords and tenants look at before deciding who to work with.

Why Visibility Matters More Than You Think

A missing or invalid CMP certificate is not just a paperwork oversight. It signals how seriously an agency treats its regulatory obligations. Agencies with consistent compliance tend to handle tenancy deposits accurately, respond to disputes faster, and maintain clearer records. Conversely, gaps in public-facing compliance often reflect gaps elsewhere in the business.

The Renters' Rights Act is expected to intensify scrutiny across the private rental sector (Letting Agent Today, 24 March 2026). As regulation tightens, agencies treating CMP as an afterthought will find themselves vulnerable to enforcement action and reputational damage. For landlords and tenants with such agencies, that means disruption and financial risk.

Displaying a valid certificate costs an agency nothing. The 62% failure rate is not a resourcing problem. It is an attitude problem.

What to Check Before Instructing an Agent

Before handing your deposit or lettings management to any agency, ask to see their valid CMP certificate directly. Don't assume that because they're trading they're covered. Ask for the certificate number and you may wish to contact their CMP scheme provider to verify it is current.

Your broker or property advisor can help validate credentials if you're unsure which questions to ask. And if an agent hesitates to provide proof, or becomes defensive when asked, that tells you what you need to know. Legitimate agencies keep this documentation readily available and are glad to share it.

The compliance gap The Letting Partnership uncovered suggests the sector needs to make CMP certification visible and verifiable. Until it does, the burden falls on landlords and tenants to ask the right questions before handing over money.