Leading figures from the estate agency world gathered at the House of Lords yesterday for a farewell drinks reception, hosted by Lord Richard Best, in honour of retiring Property Ombudsman Christopher Hamer, and TPO Chairman Bill McClintock.
Paying tribute to Bill McClintock’s 13 years of service with the Property Ombudsman, Lord Best, chairman of the Ombudsman Council, highlighted McClintock’s commitment to raising standards in agency and the industry.
And he noted that these days he seldom hears of complaints about estate agents but does hear complaints about letting agents – an indication of how lettings have come to form such a substantial proportion of TPO work.
McClintock thanked Lord Best and expressed the view that he has “absolute confidence in the way that TPO now runs”.
It was fitting that the first Ombudsman, Peter Constable, was at the reception and McClintock acknowledged the debt of gratitude the present day TPO owes him for his work with what was, in 1990, the Ombudsman for Corporate Estate Agents.
With the room containing a number of people with influence in the corridors of power, McClintock ended with a plea that a unifying piece of UK-wide legislation is required in order to draw together all the various strands of law affecting the agency industry in various parts of the country so that “we can all know what we are doing”.
It was then time for Christopher Hamer to sum up his nine years as the Property Ombudsman.
He was recently asked by a journalist “What have been the highs and the lows” of his tenure and the answer was that “It has all been highs, no lows”, adding: “I have enjoyed every minute of it.”
Although Hamer steps aside at the end of this month he will be keeping an eye on the world of residential property and in his words will “continue to watch, and shout from the sidelines”.
Lord Best, Bill McClintock and Chris Hamer
Comments (4)
McClintock ended with a plea that a unifying piece of UK-wide legislation is required in order to draw together all the various strands of law affecting the agency industry in various parts of the country so that “we can all know what we are doing”.
** Very true, and a couple of decent chaps. Always approachable.
Absolute gentlemen – wisdom meets reality, and always with a smile. Very sad to see them go and wish them all the best with thanks I’m sure, from a grateful industry – much improved as a result of their involvement and influence.
Yes very sad day to be losing these two, it’s like Messi and Ronaldo giving up the game on the same day. Both utterly knowledgable in their own field and gents to go with it it. I’m sure like many i’ll not be the first or the last to wish them the very best .
A sad but memorable day in the House of Lords. Three real gentlemen and two of them signing off but both Bill and Chris will remain involved in the industry. No pipe and slippers yet!