ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the professional bodies involved in the property industry. It examines the organisational structure and activities of a schematic professional body. The chapter outlines the education, training and development of a typical professional and the principal groupings of professionals. Part-time education may be by degree or some other acceptable mode of education, eg a professional body’s own course and examination. Firms of architects range from a sole practitioner to substantial international practices of several hundred persons. Accountants in the property world offer the usual business services of accounting for financial statements. Professional valuation and appraisal is mainly covered by members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Institute of Rating, Revenues and Valuation. Some academics may see or have in the recent past seen opportunities to be involved in the development of a new niche profession, such as: facilities management, environmental land management, alternative dispute resolution, conveyancing, planning supervision, emergency and rescue property management.
