Knowledge Transfer Partnership grant for research collaborations with Kingston University

13.07.10

Property Solutions is delighted to announce that is has been successful in its bid for funding, to establish a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership in collaboration with Kingston University.

Through this government sponsored initiative, Property Solutions will be working in partnership with Kingston on the benchmarking of service charges with the aim to drive improved accounting and administration standards in the commercial service charge industry.

“This unique initiative within the service charge industry provides a fantastic opportunity to jointly develop with our academic partner, Kingston University, cost effective, practical tools to assist landlords, managing agents and tenants”, said David Barrass, Managing Director of Property Solutions.

Since its introduction back in 2006 and having come into force in April 2007, the RICS Code of Practice continues to be a voluntary guide for best practice in the service charge industry. Not only has the 2009 Loughborough Report demonstrated that levels of Code compliance remain relatively low, Kingston University has also highlighted the limitations of the RICS Code in terms of recommending accounting standards to improve the transparency of service charges.

In an effort to produce useful industry benchmarks of Code compliance, Property Solutions is looking to double its database, which currently covers a total of 42.7 million sq ft, equivalent to 6.2 percent of the estimated total multi-let office space in England and Wales. The Company has established a willingness in a number of third party organisations to participate in this initiative. With an enlarged database, Property Solutions aims to develop a toolkit which managing agents, landlords as well as tenants can use to compare how well their buildings are managed.

“This project offers an exciting opportunity to undertake much needed research into Code compliance and benchmarking of commercial service charges. In addition, it will allow Property Solutions (UK) Limited to cement its place as the market-leading supplier of expert services to landlords, managing agents and tenants”, said Dr Andrew Holt, Principal Lecturer at Kingston University.

Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is one of Europe’s leading graduate recruitment programmes, offering the opportunity to undertake a postgraduate degree, while gaining valuable workplace experience on specific projects of strategic importance to partner companies. Property Solutions, as a partner and in association with Kingston University, is looking for a talented graduate for the position of Industry Performance Analyst. For more information on this role, please visit our current vacancies.