Following the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ (RICS) decision in January of this year to set up an independent review into its response into a scandal which broke out over allegations a report criticising the group’s governance had been suppressed, Alison Levitt QC has issued a ‘call for evidence’.

The senior barrister is leading the review, issued after BDO UK Real Estate and Construction Group, one of the largest dedicated accounting and tax property practices in the UK, warned that the organisation was at risk of “unidentified fraud, misappropriation of funds and misreporting of financial performance”. See story below. 

Levitt QC would like to hear from as many people as possible who can offer insight into the issues which form the subject of this Review.

She is particularly keen to hear from:

• Current and former members of RICS
• Current and former Directors and Officers of RICS
• Journalists
• Others with an interest in the governance of RICS.

 To make it easy for people to contact Ms Levitt QC and tell her their views, the Review has set up a secure and confidential email address at contact@LevittQCIndependentReview.co.uk.

RICS does not have access to the email address and they will not be given any of the material, which is stored on a confidential platform. It is possible for people to respond to the Review anonymously.

Evidence should be submitted by Wednesday 19th May. Ms Levitt QC is aiming to provide her report by mid-June.

RICS orders independent review into handling of governance scandal