The Property Redress Scheme's (PRS) advisory panel has chosen experts from across the sector to join its new member panel.

The UK's largest lettings redress scheme, covering more than 13,250 letting agency branches, launched the panels as new, open, and transparent forums to benefit members, consumers and the scheme itself.

It asked for applications from PRS members to strengthen its governance and accountability and held its first advisory panel meeting at the House of Lords in December, when all attendees agreed with the terms of reference, which can be found on the PRS website. 

Provide feedback

Sean Hooker, head of redress at the PRS, (pictured right) explains that it recognises its members' expertise and wants them to provide feedback, guidance, advice 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.'�

New chair, Eric Walker, MD South and Scotland at Martin & Co, says as a previous member of the advisory panel, he has maintained a keen interest in the growth of the scheme. '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,'� says Walker.

Key strategy

Tim Frome, MD of HF Resolution, which owns the PRS, (pictured left) adds: '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.'�

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

In 2022, the PRS dealt with approximately 2,000 complaints from tenants, landlords, property buyers and sellers and awarded nearly �850,000 in compensation to consumers in early resolutions and scheme decisions.