Accreditation in this industry is voluntary, which is exactly why it tells you something. Here is what each one actually means, rather than just the logo.
Our accreditations
CoPSO
CoPSO is the trade body representing property search companies in the UK. Membership requires adherence to its standards, and CoPSO works directly with the Law Society, lenders and Government on search practice and on the reform agenda.
IPSA
IPSA represents independent search providers and sets standards for personal and regulated searches. Its members commit to defined levels of professional indemnity insurance and to continuing competence.
The Search Code
The Search Code sets minimum standards for search providers: what a search must cover, how complaints must be handled, what insurance must be in place, and what a consumer is entitled to expect. Compliance is monitored independently by the PCCB.
The Property Ombudsman
Registration with TPO gives clients access to free, independent redress if a complaint cannot be resolved with us directly. It is a meaningful protection, and not every provider has it.
Cyber Essentials Plus
Cyber Essentials Plus goes beyond the self-assessed Cyber Essentials scheme: an independent assessor tests our systems directly. Given the volume of personal and transactional data that passes through a search provider, we think that hands-on verification matters.
What this means for you
Insurance, redress and a code you can hold us to
Every search we supply is backed by professional indemnity insurance. If a search is wrong and you suffer a loss because of it, there is a recoverable position — which is not true of every data product sold as a search.
If something goes wrong and we cannot resolve it between us, you are not stuck with us. The Search Code sets out how complaints must be handled, and The Property Ombudsman provides free independent redress.
Data security
Cyber Essentials Plus
Search providers hold a great deal of personal data — names, addresses, transaction values, identity documents. We hold Cyber Essentials Plus, which involves an independent assessor testing our systems rather than us filling in a questionnaire about them.
- Independently tested, not self-assessed
- Covers firewalls, access control, malware and patching
- Reassessed annually
- Data held in secure cloud infrastructure
Questions about our insurance or compliance?
Ask. We will send you the detail rather than a marketing sheet.
Or call 0151 652 4184 — telephone support seven days a week