[holding answer 15 June 2007]: The Department has not carried out, or commissioned on its behalf, any research into average fees charged by estate agents since 2004.
The Office of Fair Trading has a general duty to keep under review the estate agency market including commercial developments relating to the carrying on of estate agency work, and the working and enforcement of the Estate Agents Act 1979.
The Office of Fair Trading is also responsible under UK competition legislation for monitoring markets and investigating allegations of anti-competitive behaviour.