Accountant’s Report for Estate Agents and Letting Agents

If you handle client money as an estate or letting agent, one responsibility you cannot afford to overlook is your annual Accountant’s Report for your client money account. Many agencies only turn their attention to this when deadlines loom, but leaving it too late can increase the risk of regulatory issues, delays with membership renewals, or unnecessary pressure on your team.

At A4G, we help estate and letting agents approach their Accountant’s Report in a planned, proportionate and regulator-appropriate way, so compliance feels manageable rather than stressful.

What is an Accountant’s Report?

An Accountant’s Report is an independent examination of your Client Money account, required by regulatory bodies including Propertymark, ARLA, ARMA and Safeagent. The report provides assurance that your agency is handling client funds in accordance with the relevant client money protection rules and regulatory requirements.

What the report typically includes

• Compliance with Regulatory Requirements: Confirmation that your agency has complied with the client money rules set by the relevant regulatory or professional body
• Client Money Handling: Review of how client funds are received, held, and paid out in accordance with the applicable regulations
• Records and Reconciliations: Consideration of whether client money records and reconciliations are properly maintained and reflect client funds held
• Systems and Procedures: Review of the processes in place to safeguard client money and support compliance with client money protection rules
• Independent Reporting: An independent report prepared by a suitably qualified accountant and submitted to the relevant regulatory body

Client money typically includes tenants’ deposits, rent, service charges, and other funds held on behalf of clients that your agency is not beneficially entitled to. Completing an Accountant’s Report on an annual basis helps demonstrate compliance with the client money handling requirements set by the relevant regulatory or professional body.

Why client money compliance matters

Staying on top of your Client Money account isn’t just a regulatory requirement – it also helps protect your agency’s reputation and credibility. Failure to comply with client money rules can result in fines, disciplinary action, or loss of accreditation.

A completed Accountant’s Report helps demonstrate that your agency:

• Supports compliance with regulatory client money obligations
• Provides reassurance to regulators, clients, and stakeholders
• Helps identify weaknesses in client money handling procedures

How A4G supports estate and letting agents

At A4G, we work with estate and letting agents across the UK to support them with their Accountant’s Reports in a way that is accurate, proportionate and professionally safe.

1. Review of Client Money Records: We review client money ledgers, reconciliations, and designated client bank accounts in line with regulatory requirements
2. Transaction Testing: We carry out sample testing of receipts and payments to supporting documentation, as required by the relevant regulatory body
3. Client Money Procedures: We review the processes in place for handling client funds and maintaining compliance with client money protection rules
4. Independent Report: An independent Accountant’s Report prepared by a suitably qualified accountant and ready for submission to the relevant regulatory or professional body

Our proactive approach means your agency stays compliant without the stress of last-minute scrambling.

Don’t leave your Accountant’s Report until the deadline

Client money compliance is an area where clarity and early action make a real difference. Rushing an Accountant’s Report at the last minute increases stress and the risk of avoidable issues being flagged.

If you are an estate or letting agent and want your Accountant’s Report handled by specialists who understand both the regulatory requirements and the realities of running an agency, speak to Mitch Ewer at A4G.

Mitch works closely with estate and letting agents on client money compliance and Accountant’s Reports, providing clear guidance, realistic timescales and a calm, professional process from start to finish.

Get in touch today to book a call with Mitch and put a clear, compliant plan in place for your next Accountant’s Report.