What Is the NAPB and Why Does It Matter When Selling Your Home?

How do you check if a cash buyer is an NAPB member?

Checking NAPB membership takes under a minute. Go to napb.co.uk and look for the member directory. Every current member is listed. If the company you are researching does not appear, they are not NAPB members, regardless of what their website says.

It is also worth checking TPO registration. The Property Ombudsman lists all registered firms at tpos.co.uk. A company that claims TPO membership but does not appear on the register is making a false claim. Both lists are public and free to use.

What happens if something goes wrong with an NAPB member?

Because all NAPB members are also registered with The Property Ombudsman, sellers have access to an independent complaints process at no cost. If a dispute cannot be resolved directly with the company within eight weeks, sellers can escalate to TPO. The Ombudsman can investigate and, where appropriate, award compensation.

This matters because it removes the risk that a dispute leaves a seller with no recourse. In a sector where some unregulated operators simply dissolve the company and restart under a new name when complaints arise, the TPO route provides a real-world backstop.

The process: raise the complaint directly with the company first. If it is not resolved within eight weeks, contact The Property Ombudsman at tpos.co.uk. The scheme is free for consumers and independent of the companies it covers.

Is NAPB membership a guarantee that an offer will be fair?

NAPB membership is not a price guarantee, no trade body can enforce what a company offers for a property. What it does guarantee is the conduct around that offer. An NAPB member must:

• Put the offer in writing
• Not reduce it without a documented reason
• Be transparent about how the offer was calculated
• Give the seller time to consider without applying pressure

Whether 75%, 80%, or 85% of market value represents a fair exchange depends on the seller’s specific circumstances: the timeline they need, the costs they would otherwise carry through a traditional sale, and the certainty they need that the sale will complete. What NAPB membership ensures is that the conversation about that offer is conducted honestly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NAPB?

The NAPB — the National Association of Property Buyers — is the only trade body specifically for cash house buyers in the UK. It was set up to establish consistent standards of conduct in a sector that had no dedicated regulation. NAPB members commit to a Code of Practice covering offer transparency, written commitments, fair conduct, and access to independent dispute resolution. Membership is voluntary, but it is the most reliable signal available to sellers that a cash buyer operates to a recognised standard.

Is the NAPB the same as The Property Ombudsman?

No, they are separate but connected. The NAPB is a trade association that sets standards and vets members. The Property Ombudsman (TPO) is a redress scheme that handles complaints and provides independent dispute resolution. NAPB members are required to also be registered with TPO. This means sellers dealing with an NAPB member have both a conduct standard to reference and a free, independent complaints process if something goes wrong. You can verify both memberships directly: napb.co.uk for NAPB, tpos.co.uk for TPO.

How do I check if a cash buyer is NAPB registered?

Go to napb.co.uk and search the member directory. Every current NAPB member is listed there. If the company you are looking into does not appear, they are not NAPB members — regardless of what their website or marketing materials say. You can also verify TPO registration at tpos.co.uk. Both checks take under a minute and cost nothing. Any company that is genuinely NAPB registered will actively encourage you to verify this — it is a mark of credibility, not something to hide.

Does NAPB membership mean a cash buyer will offer me a fair price?

NAPB membership governs conduct, not the offer amount itself. What it ensures is that the offer is given in writing, is not reduced without a documented reason such as an adverse survey finding, and is explained transparently. Cash buyers typically offer between 75% and 85% of market value, this is not a secret, and NAPB members are required to be open about why. Whether that represents a fair exchange depends on your circumstances: how quickly you need to sell, what a traditional sale would cost you in time and fees, and how certain you need the outcome to be.

What protection does NAPB membership give me if something goes wrong?

Because all NAPB members are registered with The Property Ombudsman, you have access to a free, independent complaints process. If a dispute with an NAPB member is not resolved within eight weeks, you can escalate to TPO. The Ombudsman can investigate the complaint, require the company to change its conduct, and in some cases award compensation. This is meaningful protection in a sector where unregulated operators have, in the past, simply dissolved and restarted to avoid accountability. TPO registration provides a real and enforceable route of complaint.

Can a company call itself a cash buyer without being NAPB registered?

Yes – NAPB membership is voluntary. There is currently no legal requirement for a company to be NAPB registered in order to describe itself as a cash house buyer. This is precisely why checking membership matters. The NAPB exists to distinguish regulated operators from unregulated ones, but it cannot stop a company that chooses not to join from trading. If a company you are considering is not on the NAPB member list, you have no way of knowing what standards, if any, govern how they operate. That is a significant risk to take in a transaction involving your home.

Is SmoothSale an NAPB member?

Yes. SmoothSale is a registered member of the National Association of Property Buyers and is registered with The Property Ombudsman. You can verify both directly: search for SmoothSale on napb.co.uk and tpos.co.uk. Our company details – PLH Capital Limited, company number 13115021 – are also publicly available on Companies House. We are registered in England and Wales and buy properties for cash across England and Wales. We encourage every seller we speak to to verify our credentials before they make any decision.