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The government is introducing extra protection for people buying and selling homes by requiring all estate agents to sign up to a redress scheme by October 1st.
Consumer minister Gareth Thomas laid an order in parliament last week which requires all agents to abide by the new rules.
Other new measures set to arrive in October include further powers for the Office of Fair Trading allowing it to remove rogue firms from the market.
Mr Thomas said: "People who experience problems with an estate agent will soon have access to a free, easy to use ombudsman. The scheme will be transparent, independent and fair."
The investigatory powers of enforcement officers will also be increased from October, in changes welcomed by the National Association of Estate Agents.
A 2004 survey by the Office of Fair Trading found 15 per cent of sellers tried to terminate their contract with their first choice of estate agent, citing poor service as the reason in most cases.
