ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the relationships between the property industry and government and government departments. It identifies property-related departments, agencies and other government bodies and shows the main property-related programmes and projects of the various government bodies. The property industry faces many government and quasi-government bodies which have responsibilities to regulate, control or perhaps assist those in the industry. The government has a relatively discreet set of functions which directly or indirectly affect the property industry. A principle which is beginning to pervade government activities on projects and programmes is joined-up government. Although the courts and tribunals may be thought to be part of government, under the largely unwritten constitution they are a separate organ of the state — independent of ministerial or political influence. Government departments are the major components responsible for the delivery of government functions. In the main, the work is undertaken by the civil service hierarchy within the department.
