TPO announces new Property Ombudsman, Katrine Sporle CBE.

From 1 November 2015, Katrine Sporle CBE will take up the role of Ombudsman at The Property Ombudsman, taking over from her predecessor Christopher Hamer, whose nine year term comes to an end on 30th November.

Previously, Katrine Sporle was Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate for England and Wales (2003-2011), which involved being responsible for all aspects of the Government Executive Agency, 1000 members of staff and a £60m budget.

She was directly answerable to Parliament and regularly reported to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (CLG), and the Minister for Housing and Planning in the National Assembly for Wales. “The scope for influence on the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of the nation as a whole was enormous, and exercised through impartiality of decision making to the highest level of professional expertise” comments Katrine Sporle.

Prior to that, Katrine was Chief Executive of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for eight years, controlling an overall budget of circa £58m. She provided inspirational leadership to develop the potential of the Borough as a whole, gaining a reputation for economic, cultural and social success.

Katrine Sporle’s role as the new Property Ombudsman is to impartially review complaints made by members of the public against agents, based on the evidence submitted. The aim is to promote a resolution in full and final settlement of a complaint. Where the Ombudsman is satisfied that the actions of an agent have disadvantaged a complainant, and taking into account relevant parts of the TPO Codes of Practice, she will determine appropriate redress.

Upon appointment of the new Property Ombudsman, Lord Richard Best OBE, Chairman of the TPO Council since 2009, commented “Selecting our Ombudsman is a key responsibility of the independent TPO Council and we are truly delighted to have secured someone with the breadth and depth of experience – at local and national levels – which Katrine brings to this role.

Christopher Hamer is a very hard act to follow; but I am confident we have found a great successor. I know all TPO’s members and well-wishers will join me in extending the warmest of welcomes to Katrine when she starts in November.”

Bill McClintock, Board Chairman of The Property Ombudsman Scheme added: ‘I welcome Katrine Sporle as the new Ombudsman and endorse Lord Best’s comments. I believe her broad employment background will be a huge benefit in performing her new role.’

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

First-time buyers get more market town for their money in the Midlands

Leek, West Midlands is the most affordable market town for first-time buyers, at an average £191,359 Immingham, Yorkshire and the Humber most affordable for all buyers, at £176,918 Overall, average house price in market towns now £363,456, up 5% in the last year and 24% in the last five years First-time buyers paying an average…
Read More
Breaking News

Placemaking around rail is a winning blueprint

The Government has announced that around 40,000 new, high-quality homes will be built on surplus railway land, as the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, unlocks brownfield sites across the country for development. Richard Beresford Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “The Government has a chance to set a new standard in placemaking…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove: Average two-year and five-year fixed mortgage rates now level

Rightmove’s daily mortgage tracker shows that the current average two-year fixed mortgage rate is currently level with the average five-year fixed mortgage rate.   Both the average two-year fixed rate, and five-year fixed rate are currently 4.52% Prior to July 2025, the last time this was the case was in September 2022 before the mini-Budget…
Read More
Breaking News

UK Homemovers Relocating Over 50 Miles

UK Homemovers Now Relocating Over 50 Miles as Buyers Seek Better Value Beyond the City The latest research by GetAgent Exchange, a platform enabling estate agents to monetise out-of-area applicant leads, has found that UK long-distance movers are now relocating an average of 52 miles from their original location, rising to over 80 miles in…
Read More
Breaking News

Beach hut values soar by as much as 100%

The latest research from over-50s property specialists, Regency Living, reveals that it’s not just demand for bricks and mortar that is pushing up house prices in Britain’s most desirable coastal locations, with the average price of a beach hut soaring by as much as 100% in some seaside towns. High cost of coastal homes England’s…
Read More
Breaking News

Revealed: the most lucrative shared living postcodes

New research from COHO, the HMO management platform, reveals that the shared living market in England & Wales generates an estimated monthly rental income of £1.4bn. But which postcode areas are creating the most income from shared living? How much are HMOs making in your postcode? Find out here COHO has analysed the estimated number…
Read More