Member Article

Debt recovery expert to advise national residents’ body

A specialist with more than 30 years’ experience in legal debt recovery and enforcement has been appointed as honorary consultant of a national private residents’ body.

Neil Jinks, director of Birmingham-based Realty Law, will offer expert advice to leaseholders as part of a new voluntary position with the Federation of Private Residents’ Associations (FPRA).

The voice of residents’ associations, the FPRA is a not-for-profit lease advice, support and lobbying organisation. Frequently consulted by government, the organisation acts on behalf of private residential leaseholders, tenants’ and residents’ associations, residential management companies and flat management companies.

Neil Jinks has managed legal debt recovery operations for several leading law firms in a career spanning three decades and is recommended for debt recovery in The Legal 500 across three regions. He is regional president of the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management.

Neil said: “I am delighted to be appointed as honorary consultant of the FPRA and very much look forward to supporting the organisation in offering impartial advice to its members. I have acted for numerous property professionals in respect of the recovery of property related debts including rent, ground rent, service charges and insurances as well as dealing with taking possession of property and enforcement action. I hope to use my expertise to the benefit of FPRA members.”

Bob Smytherman, honorary chairman of FPRA, said: “As a voluntary organisation we rely on the goodwill of all our honorary consultants, who give up many hours of their own time to provide impartial and independent advice on some very complex matters that assist leaseholders in overcoming some often very difficult situations. On behalf of our members, we would very much like to thank Neil for agreeing to be one of our honorary consultants and we look forward to establishing a long and constructive relationship with him.”

Established in 1971, the FPRA represents the views of more than 500 members of residents’ associations and resident owned freehold companies. The body is managed by a volunteer committee of experts and leading professionals and acts as a lobbying group to influence and instigate legislative and practical change in the areas of tenancy and management of residential complexes in the private sector.

Realty Law specialises in the complex area of debt recovery for management companies, managing agents and landlords. It operates mainly in the residential leasehold sector but also within commercial property. The firm is co-managed by Neil Jinks and Charlotte Collins - a solicitor and property litigation specialist with more than 30 years of experience - and supported by a team of specialists.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by paul king .