The panel members were Mr Jim Atkins PPNAEA (Honoured) (member panellist acting as the Chairperson for the Tribunal); Ms Jacqueline Stone FNAEA (member panellist); and Mrs Suzanne Smith (lay panellist).
The presenting Case Officer for Propertymark was Mr Ali Haider. Mr James Wright was not in attendance at the Hearing. Mr Derek Richardson, the complainant, attended the Hearing online via Zoom.
The Hearing took place in private and was recorded.
Allegations
The Tribunal considered the allegations set out in the case summary sent to Mr Wright.
It was alleged that Mr Wright had acted in contravention of the requirements of the following ARLA Inventories Accreditation Scheme Rules:
- Rule 8: General duty to uphold high standards of ethical and professional behaviour
- Rule 18: Continuing professional development (CPD) rules
And the following sections of the ARLA Inventories Accreditation Scheme Code of Conduct:
- 21. A Members Firm must have a written in-house complaint handling procedure (appropriate to its size and structure).
- 23. Accredited Members must comply promptly and fully with any investigation or assessment of a complaint or dispute conducted by the ARLA Inventories Accredited Scheme or its appointed adjudicator, expert, or arbitrator.
Decision
In the absence of Mr Wright, Ms Nikki Tucker, Compliance Administration Team Leader at Propertymark, entered a plea denying the alleged breaches of the Rules 8, 18, 21 and 23.
After consideration of the evidence presented and submissions by the parties, the Tribunal announced the following findings:
It was alleged that Mr Wright had acted in contravention of the requirements of the following ARLA Inventories Accreditation Scheme Rules:
- Rule 8: Proven
- Rule 18: Proven
- Code of Conduct section 21: Proven
- Code of Conduct section 23: Proven
Sanctions
- Rule 8: £2,500
- Rule 18: £250
- Code of Conduct section 21: £1,250
- Code of Conduct section 23: £2,000
In addition, the costs of this Hearing of £585 were imposed against Mr Wright in favour of Propertymark.
Closing Statement
The Tribunal made the following statement:
'We are dismayed that Mr James Wright of 1st Choice Inventories, one of our members, should have agreed to carry out 268 inventories, collected the keys and yet the inventories were never received, despite the efforts of the managing agent to obtain them.
This behaviour is not acceptable and other professionals and members of the public should be warned. Mr Wright has also failed to deal with any communication from Propertymark and has not appeared, either in person or online, at today’s Hearing.
Mr Wright’s membership of this Association was terminated for non-payment of his subscription in January 2025. Should Mr Wright reapply for membership, this Tribunal recommends to Propertymark that he should not be readmitted.
In order to protect other professionals and members of the public, we direct Propertymark to make the result of this Tribunal public.'
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