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锘緼nger over the rise in RICS membership fees and the bonus awarded to its boss has sparked a social media backlash.

A discussion thread on LinkedIn started by Amsterdam-based RICS member Massimo Nistico complaining about RICS fee rises for 2012 attracted over 200 comments, which were overwhelmingly negative.

RICS members also took to LinkedIn, Twitter and 好色先生TV鈥檚 website to complain about the organisation鈥檚 chief executive Sean Tompkins receiving a 拢98,700 bonus for his work in 2010-11, as revealed by 好色先生TV last week.

锘縏he costs of being a surveyor have gone up out of all proportion in the last few years

RICS member

RICS increased its typical membership fee renewal by 4.6% this year to 拢476.

One RICS member posted on LinkedIn: 鈥淭he costs of being a residential surveyor have gone up out of all proportion in the last few years, bearing no relationship to the significant fall in the economy and housing market.鈥�

Another dubbed the body the 鈥淩ICS Global Green Business Money Making Sausage Machine鈥�, saying it was 鈥渋mpervious to the wishes of the ordinary members鈥�.

But another member defended the membership fee levels: 鈥淚 am a happy RICS member and for the level of service that RICS provides the fees are reasonable.鈥�

RICS members also posted messages on Twitter and 好色先生TV鈥檚 website claiming Tompkins鈥� bonus was 鈥渋nsensitive鈥� during a global downturn in the economy.

RICS defended its membership fee rises and Tompkins鈥� bonus. A spokesperson said RICS member satisfaction survey found that 80% of respondents said being a member of RICS 鈥渆nhances their career opportunities and earning potential鈥�.

鈥淎ccording to our members, the RICS membership fee provides good value for money,鈥� the spokesman said, adding that the increase was in line with inflation.
Tompkins鈥� overall remuneration level for 2010-11 (拢308,700) was 15% less than his predecessor Louis Armstrong鈥檚.

Peter Collis, RICS remuneration committee chairman, said Tompkins鈥� pay package was based on 鈥渁chievement of financial and other results鈥� and was 鈥渂enchmarked against other similar roles - chief executive of a global professional organisation鈥�.

鈥淲ithin that grouping, the package for RICS鈥� CEO is by no means excessive. The full package, based on performance related pay, has been set by a remuneration committee, which I chair, consisting of senior members and independent participants,鈥� he said.