Redress scheme unveils new member panel

The Property Redress Scheme (PRS) has formed a new member panel that will be chaired by senior industry figure Eric Walker.

The aim of the panel is to strengthen the governance and accountability of the PRS.

Its membership was confirmed at the first meeting of the PRS advisory panel, established to replace its advisory council represent a range of industry views in the organisation’s policy, at the House of Lords in December.

Walker, who is currently managing director of Martin & Co for the south and Scotland, said: “I am delighted to have been asked to chair the Property Redress Scheme’s member panel. 

“Having previously been part of the advisory panel, I have maintained a keen interest in the growth of the PRS. 

“I support the excellent work they do in improving standards in the sector and supporting both agents and consumers through the complaints and mediation process. I very much look forward to the first meeting and to share my broad knowledge and experience in the sector with other members of the member panel and the leadership of the scheme.”

Applications were open to all members of the PRS for the member panel and the confirmed panel names are:

• Chair: Eric Walker, Martin & Co
• Estate agency: Nasar Hussain, Westbrooke; Rory Ballantyne, Ballantynes Scotland Ltd; Sara Morton, S.A Morton Real Estates Ltd
• Lettings and property management: Anthony Cicchirillo, Anthony Lettings Limited; Bruce Haagensen, Keystone Estate Agents Ltd; Leona Leung, Alliance Finance Consultants Ltd; Mark Lynch, Lexi Lets Ltd
• Property professional: Lisa Williamson, No Letting Go; Simon Zutshi, Property Investors Network; 
• Property sourcing: Attiq Khan, NRG Consultant Group Ltd
• Residential leasehold management: Helen Macrae, Evolve Block and Estate Management

Sean Hooker, head of Redress at the PRS, said: “We’re approaching our second decade of redress and have industry leading expertise as a result.

“We recognise the expertise of our members too and that’s why we want them to help us with their feedback, guidance, advise and support. The member panel gives them that opportunity as well as enabling them to engage with other panel members to share knowledge and raise standards."

Tim Frome, managing director of HF Resolution, the HFIS entity that owns the PRS, added: “Our new member panel is a key part of our strategy for improving our offering to ensure we are not acting in isolation from the sector we represent. 

“We want to know more about how redress works for our members – and how we can make it better still in the future.”