Rowland Jones Chartered Surveyors

Gareth Harries, a director at Rowland Jones Chartered Surveyors of Swansea, has been appointed to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ (RICS) panel of Arbitrators and also to their panel of Independent Experts.

Both the panel of Arbitrators and panel of Independent Experts consist of RICS members who have experience in dealing with disputes which arise within leases. Disputes generally relate to disagreements over the level of rent to be fixed at rent reviews.

Gareth said, “It’s a great honour to be invited onto both these panels as the opportunity doesn’t come about very often!”

The RICS only consider making appointments to fill vacancies either on a geographical basis or on an experience basis in any particular specialist field. “It’s a case of having to wait until the RICS are ready to invite new panel members, rather than pushing your way forward,” said Gareth.

However, it wasn’t easy. Gareth underwent training courses, presented written submissions and submitted an arbitration award in order to be considered for the panels. Having passed all of these, a rigorous interview followed with an experienced arbitrator, an RICS member and a layperson.

In South Wales, there are only two surveyors in Swansea who are on the Independent Expert panel and there is only one Arbitrator to the west of Cardiff who deals only with agricultural property and is based in Haverfordwest. Gareth feels his role at Rowland Jones and Partners will benefit greatly from the experience he gains in undertaking this new work. Gareth added, “I am delighted to be appointed onto both panels. I feel the appointments are a huge boost for the practice’s professional and rent review department.”