Latest News

April 2010

WE'VE CHANGED OUR  NAME ! 

Ombudsman Services: Property is the new name for Surveyors Ombudsman Service.

We've changed our name to  accommodate the increasing number of estate agents and residential managing agents who are now members of the service.

Lewis Shand Smith, Chief Ombudsman of Ombudsman Services: Property, said: “When the Surveyors Ombudsman Service was set up in 2007, by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, we chose a name that represented the majority of our members. Now there are hundreds of estates agents and residential managing agents, as well as surveyors, who have signed up to our scheme.

“The name Ombudsman Services: Property reflects the change in our business and the positive steps we are taking to developing a first class dispute resolution service in the property industry.”

Andrew Bradley, Communications Manager for Ombudsman Services: Property, added: “We are rebranding this service in line with our telecom and energy sectors so that members and consumers alike will recognise the quality and service that Ombudsman Services represents."

March 2010

ACCESSIBLE SERVICES FOR CONSUMERS

We are pleased to announce that we have chosen Vision Support Trading as our provider of alternative formats, such as Braille, Large Print and Audio. 

Vision Support Trading (VST) is one of the UK’s leading providers of dedicated transcription service solutions for the visually impaired.

One of its unique characteristics is that it is a social enterprise and works alongside its parent charity Vision Support. This means that all the profits from its commercial activities are fed back into the community to assist people with sight loss and to maintain their independence.

If you would like us to provide any of our information in an alternative format please let us know your requirements. 
 

December 2009

ARMA JOINS THE SURVEYORS OMBUDSMAN SERVICE

The Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) is the latest major organisation to join the Surveyors Ombudsman Service.  

ARMA has over 225 corporate members that in turn manage an estimated 30,000 blocks of residential flats across England and Wales. These members, also known as residential managing agents, deal with communal services, maintenance, service charges and bills.

It is a requirement that ARMA members sign up to a recognised dispute resolution service and SOS is the recommended scheme.

Lewis Shand Smith, Chief Ombudsman of SOS, explains: “We are delighted that ARMA has decided that its members should join the Surveyors Ombudsman Service. As a professional ombudsman scheme we are happy to welcome any firm which provides services to the property sector.

“Our members include surveyors, estate agents, managing agents and letting agents. In such a difficult economic climate it is essential that we work together with the property industry to give confidence to consumers that if things go wrong, effective independent redress is available.”

ARMA Chairman Brett Williams adds: “It will now be the ombudsman who will investigate the conduct of our members and report to us if a member is found to be seriously wanting.  We see this step as bringing us to the level of redress that we want to be able to offer to our members’ clients and customers.”

For more information please contact:

Andrew Bradley, Communications Manager at SOS, on 01925 430880 or email press@ombudsman-services.org.