Residential Property Management Expert

ARE YOU A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT EXPERT?

The trust that clients, employers, professionals and the public place in RICS members is underpinned by our regulatory function. In effect, regulation plays an integral part in upholding RICS’ reputation.

As part of this function, we investigate cases where we may need to take disciplinary action in the public interest, to maintain professional standards and retain public trust and confidence. We look into concerns shared with us about surveyors working in any field – including residential property management – and there are occasions where we require independent experts in a sector to provide their professional opinion on a specific issue.

We are now recruiting an eight-strong panel of experts with extensive knowledge in residential property management, who can provide independent specialist opinion to support our investigatory, disciplinary and enforcement activities.

This may include informal advice to help investigators understand complex technical information, formal opinion such as expert reports, or oral evidence at disciplinary panel hearings. To learn more about this role see the article in RICS Journals.

RICS would prefer the independent experts to be RICS Members unless you can demonstrate substantive knowledge in your area of expertise.  RICS would particularly welcome applications from women, LGBTQ+, disabled people and people from black and minority ethnic communities.

The role

RICS is the global professional body for the surveying profession. It is responsible for regulating the professional conduct of Regulated Members in order to:

• protect the public
• uphold public confidence in the surveying profession and
• uphold professional standards.

As part of our regulatory function, we investigate cases where there may be a need to take disciplinary action in the public interest and to maintain professional standards. We investigate concerns relating to various areas of surveying, including residential property management. There are occasions where, as part of the investigation process, we require independent experts in the sector to provide their opinion on a specific issue.  We need to source the best possible advice so will look to you to provide us with:

• informal advice, which will help us understand keys risks and issues of non-compliance with our Rules and Standards;
• formal written expert opinion; and / or
• attend the Regulatory Tribunal and provide oral evidence as an expert witness.

Experts appointed to the panel of experts in residential property management will inspire stakeholder confidence in RICS as a professional body, ensuring that RICS remains trusted to set and enforce the profession’s standards and work in the public interest to protect the public.

What’s in it for you?

You will be:

• able to diversify and use your professional experience and knowledge in a different way
• a trusted, credible, independent expert advisor on regulatory and disciplinary matters for the RICS
• remunerated for your expert opinion and attendance at the Regulatory Tribunal, as and when required, in accordance with agreed payment terms.

The candidate

Suitable candidates must:

• be an Associate Member of RICS (AssocRICS) as a minimum, or a Professional Member (MRICS) or Fellow (FRICS) is desirable, but not essential. If a non-Member, then the candidate must be able to demonstrate substantive knowledge and experience in their area of expertise
• possess a minimum of 5 years post qualification experience in residential property management have experience of appearing in any one of the following:
• First Tier Tribunal
• Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber)
• a county court
• the High Court.

Suitable candidates must be able to demonstrate a sound understanding of all key areas relating to the management of property and must possess intellectual flexibility, high levels of resilience, confidence, and professionalism. The right candidate will demonstrate an unimpeachable reputation for probity, integrity and fairness and must be able to form a constructive independent and rationalised view using sound judgement based on RICS professional standards, Rules of Conduct and bye-Laws.

Key areas of expertise and knowledge may include one or more of the following:

• management of residential property
• maintenance management, repairs, and improvements
• in depth knowledge of the Service charge residential management Code.
• all relevant legislation including, but not limited to, Service charges, Consultation requirements and forfeiture 
• reading and understanding leases
• understanding the implication of the anticipated Fire Safety Act and Building Safety Act
• working for a range of clients including developers, freeholders, and resident management companies
• managing mixed used developments (desirable)
• taking on new instructions and ending instructions and handovers
• the role and rights of Recognised Tenant’s Associations
• the role of the FTT and dispute resolution

It is envisaged you will be instructed up to a maximum of 3 times in 12 months and the anticipated maximum time commitment for this role is 6 days per annum

 How to apply

If you are interested in this opportunity and think you can offer what we are looking for, we would really like to hear from you. Please send your CV along with a summary (no more than one side of A4) detailing how you fulfil one or more of the keys areas of experience and knowledge required.  When applying, please also provide an indicative hourly and daily rate which includes any indicative reduced rate to be on the RICS independent expert panel.  Please send your CV and supporting information to independentexpertpanel@rics.org

Interviews will be held either in person in our offices in Birmingham or via conference facility. We will be in touch with you to make arrangements should you be shortlisted to the next stage of the process.

RICS is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage qualified candidates from a wide array of backgrounds to apply because we know that it’s the differences in our people that make the difference to our performance.