Pictured above: Andrew Moss, Shortland Horne director

Coventry estate agent Shortland Horne has been awarded a licence from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) for all three of its offices in the city.

The national body has granted the licence, backed by both Grant Shapps, the Housing Minister, and Alison Seabeck, the Shadow Housing Minister, to the firm's offices in the city centre, Earlsdon and Walsgrave.

It means each office has at least one agent within the branch qualified in residential property sales.

Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the NAEA, said: "I am delighted to confirm that Shortland Horne is fully licensed.

"We would like all sellers and buyers to ask their prospective agents: do you have an NAEA licence? 

"If they don't, they should ask themselves whether that's the agent from whom they will get the best service when marketing their property.

"No one would knowingly use an unlicensed taxi driver. Neither should they use an unlicensed estate agent.

"In a difficult economic time it is important for anyone placing a home on the market to use a professional, knowledgeable agent. NAEA members know their local area and know their local market. That is very important to consumers."

The new licence will also guarantee the agency is covered by required amounts of Professional Indemnity Insurance. They will also undertake 12 hours of Continuing Professional Development every year, commit to keeping up to date with industry developments and be bound by the NAEA's Rules of Conduct.

Andrew Moss, director of Shortland Horne, said: "It's important that both buyers and sellers have confidence in their agent and we are delighted to have an NAEA licence which highlights our commitment to the highest standards.

"We have offices across the city and we have made sure that all three are licensed but, on top of that, we ensure we do all we can to market homes in every way possible."