It would be a much more interesting headline of this piece if it could have been written as ‘RICS publishes findings of Levitt Report’ but for that we shall have to wait for an indefinite period.

Alison Levitt QC yesterday delivered her potentially explosive report into the 2019 dismissal of four non-exceutive RICS directors. The 400 page document was handed to Chris Brooke FRICS, the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Governing Council of RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).

Levitt replaced Peter Oldham who was appointed in February to carry out the review but who quit last April, being unable to carry out the task ‘for professional reasons’.

The QC has advised the Steering Committee that the members of Governing Council should now take time to consider her report before deciding what action to take in relation to it.

Ms Levitt QC said: “I would like to express my personal thanks to all those who have contributed to the important work of the Independent Review, including the many members of RICS who responded to my call for evidence: I was struck by the passion about RICS expressed by all those to whom I spoke.

“RICS’ Governing Council will now need an opportunity carefully to consider my report and recommendations before making any decision about next steps.”

Legendary property journalist Peter Bill (a former editor of Estates Gazette) summed it all up in two tweets yesterday afternoon:

“RICS says it has received Levitt review into firing of four non-exec directors. Will it be published before it leaks? Probably not. RICS say findings will be “carefully considered” before “formal response” is issued.”

and

“As an aside: headhunters are working hard and fast to find a new chair for the RICS governing council. Candidates are presumably going to get sight of the Levitt report. Once appointed, the job will likely consist of saying the words “learning lessons” and moving on”.”

When it eventually leaks we shall bring you news of the content.

Chair of RICS review into handling of governance scandal resigns