He was a founding member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents, the professional and regulatory body for letting agents in the UK, and founder of Leaders, one of the UK's largest independently-owned letting agencies.

Before setting up ARLA, the professional and regulatory body for letting agents in the UK, in 1981 and Leaders in 198, Mr Lee had been a tea planter in India, and had rented out his own home while abroad, gaining a personal insight into letting and being a landlord.

He had also spent 10 years working for a large sales and lettings business in London, but was horrified by the standards of the letting industry at that time.

Experience into practice

Mr Lee believed he could use his own personal experience to improve standards in the industry by establishing both a regulatory body and his own specialist letting agency, through which he would promote integrity and quality in all aspects of letting.

In an interview carried out several years ago, he explained his thinking behind establishing ARLA and Leaders.

"The industry at that time was radically different to how it is now and I was ashamed of the profession of which I'd become a member.

"The standards that I had experienced while working in London constantly appalled me; with young people moving into flats that were entirely unacceptable and unsafe, and generally being treated as second class citizens.

"As a result, people rented purely out of desperation and letting was carried out at the back desk or behind a grill in an estate agent's office, as a very bothersome tertiary activity.

"It was because of these poor standards that I co-founded ARLA and set up my own lettings business."

Starting out

Leaders was set up from small, first-floor offices in Brighton.

Ironically – in accordance with Mr Lee's own rules - it could not become a member of ARLA until it had been established for at least two years.

By providing a highly personal and professional service, with a focus on integrity at all times, Mr Lee ensured Leaders' success.

His reputation spread and the business flourished, expanding branch by branch across Sussex and Hampshire.

As standards in the industry improved – aided by the introduction of the 1988 Housing Act - ARLA's prominence also grew and Mr Lee went on to become chairman of the Association.

Changing the industry

ARLA has for many years been recognised by government, local authorities, consumer interest groups and the media as the leading professional body in the private rented sector.

Thanks to Mr Lee's contribution, renting today is a lifestyle choice made by millions because of the advantages it offers.

Tenants enjoy an excellent choice of quality properties and the stigma has disappeared.

For landlords, residential letting has become an increasingly popular form of investment, with none of the risks or complications prevalent 20 years ago.

Mr Lee pioneered the concept of "buy-to-Let", which has now become a household phrase.

Honoured for service

In 1995, Mr Lee became an OBE for services to the lettings industry and remains the only person in the industry to be honoured in this way.

He retired in 1996, by which time Leaders had 15 offices and was recognised as one of the most successful independently-owned letting specialists in the UK.

Mr Lee's son-in-law, Paul Weller, bought Leaders from him in 1996, and has continued to build on his original success.

The company now has 34 offices across Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Dorset, Berkshire and Hertfordshire, and is continuing to grow.

Paul said: "Neville's philosophy on the importance of integrity and providing a dedicated, personal service ensured Leaders' success in the early days, and remains at the heart of the way we run the business today.

"He was a remarkable man whose legacy is a better lettings industry for all – landlords, tenants and agents alike."

Long illness

After a number of years living with Parkinson's disease, which had an increasingly devastating impact on his quality of life, Mr Lee developed pneumonia and died suddenly at his home in West Chiltington, on January 19.

He is survived by his second wife, four daughters and 11 grandchildren.