Advertisment
The advertisement stated the following:
The advertisement was for two bedrooms in a house share, with rent being advertised as “from €900 per month”. A description of the property and facilities was given and included “A complimentary housekeeping service is provided as is complimentary Wifi & TV. Electricity, Heating and Waste bills are included with a monthly surcharge subject to Fair Usage Policy.”
Complaint
The complainant considered the advertisement to be misleading. She considered that by omitting the requirement for an additional €150 surcharge for bills the advertisers were not advertising the full amount of the rent, and that this was misleading to renters and a way to ask for more rent than that advertised.
Response
The advertisers did not provide a response to the complaint.
Conclusion
Complaint Upheld.
The Complaints Committee considered the detail of the complaint. They expressed concern at the advertisers’ failure to respond to the complaint and pointed out that there is an onus on advertisers to ensure that their advertising is in conformity with the Code.
The Committee noted that while the advertisement stated that the rent was “from €900”, it also stated that “Electricity, Heating and Waste bills are included with a monthly surcharge subject to Fair Usage Policy”. The Committee considered that the headline cost should have included any non-discretionary charges. In the absence of a response from Period Doors Property Ltd, the Committee concluded that the advertisement was in breach of Code sections 3.10, 4.1 and 4.4 of the Code.
Action Required:
The advertising should not run again in its current format.
