New chairperson is announced for NALS

The National Approved Letting Scheme has appointed a new chair, Sheila Drew Smith.
 
Formerly a non-executive director of NALS, she replaces Caroline Pickering who has held the post since 2006.
 
An economist by background with specific expertise in governance, finance and planning, Drew Smith has extensive experience as a senior executive in both the public and private sectors. She has previously held roles as an economic adviser in HM Treasury and as a partner with predecessor firms of Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
 
More recently, she has gained substantial experience as a non executive board member in the public sector, including audit and risk committees at the Housing Corporation, the Office of the Regulator of Social Housing and the Audit Commission.
 
As well as sitting on the NALS board, she is currently also a member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation.
 
The appointment comes as record numbers of people are living in rented accommodation – a fact that she believes makes the role of the letting agent more important than ever before.

Drew Smith said: “We’ve all read the headlines about ‘generation rent’ and the burgeoning private rentals sector, both of which inevitably shine the spotlight on the role of the letting agent. 
 
“For an industry that already faces scrutiny over issues relating to the lack of transparency of fees and so-called rogue agents, there has never been a more pivotal time for the industry to step up and unite in its commitment to self-regulation and promotion of the very highest professional standards.
 
“I welcome this new opportunity to continue the great strides made by Caroline Pickering and the team.”