Scottish
Regional Magazine of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Winter 2011
IN THIS ISSUE: Features 06 The Construction Act 07 Counting the cost of money laundering 08 National Housing Trust – innovation in action 10 Taking stock of the recession 11 Creating value from better places News 12 Careers guide launched 14 Working with Scottish Government 15 CPD – a different approach 16 Scottish project is global winner
www.twitter.com/ricsscotland
rics.org/scotland Winter 2011 I Scottish Surveyor I 1
Chairman’s
Update I
t’s funny how things work out. When I got married, little did I think that both my wife and I would become, as my son says, ‘a couple of chairs’. She the UK chair of a children’s education charity and me your chairman for 2011-12. I am very honoured to have been considered for this post and during my term I will attempt to represent both RICS Scotland and all its members to the best of my ability. I was recently asked what RICS Scotland had learned from the recession and I responded that two main lessons could be heeded. Firstly, the speed of change from boom to bust had been so much quicker than before. This was in my view a reflection of our brave new electronic world whereby information is communicated faster than the blink of an eye combined with the presence of 24-hour news coverage. The second lesson was the resilience of chartered surveyors to such huge adverse change over such a short period of time. This is a reflection of not only their grasp of a broad range of technical skills but also of their
acumen to respond positively to a world that had changed, literally, overnight. Accordingly, I am comforted that the future of our surveying profession in Scotland is in good and secure hands although this does not mean to say that there are no ongoing issues to be progressed. As I have now discovered, my in-tray is by no means empty. Over the course of the next 12 months I will be working closely with RICS Scotland director, Graeme Hartley, and his dedicated team in Edinburgh on issues for the benefit of members. I hope you enjoy reading your new-look online magazine which will be published in March, July and November each year. You may have spotted the name change too. ‘Scottish surveyor’ represents the different grades of RICS membership (not just chartered) and it also fits in with the names of the regional magazines across the rest of the UK. Remember to save the link to your ‘favourites’.
Keith Petrie MRICS RICS Scotland Chairman schairman@rics.org
Media mentions... Decorative wish sees rise in prices
Mortgage Scots lead rise shortage boosts in prime rents property prices
The price of affordable contemporary art in the UK rose at its fastest pace… as many buyers purchased works for decorative rather than financial reasons, says the latest RICS Arts and Antiques Survey. Angus Milner-Brown of RICS Scotland and Covington Fine Art Ltd said: “The auction market across Scotland and the UK has been flooded with Chinese related lots after the huge rise in prices for many items…”
A lack of available mortgages has continued to push up rents for residential property although the pace of growth is slowing. Graeme Hartley, RICS Scotland, said: “The combination of strong tenant demand and an increase in the number of rental properties on the market has resulted in rents stabilising”.
The Herald, 26 July 2011
BBC News, 31 August 2011
High-end properties in Scotland are outperforming the UK’s flagging housing market commanding asking prices which are up almost 7 per cent since the turn of the year. Graeme Hartley, RICS Scotland, said: “The higher end of the market could be performing well because buyers often pay in cash and so a lack of mortgage finance is not affecting them. Additionally, the successful oil industry in Aberdeen, which is attracting directors and executives to Scotland, could be skewing the asking-price figures.”
From Unst conservation to global domination? Four Scottish building projects will go head-to-head with rivals from Europe, Africa, USA and the rest of the UK to be named ‘best in category’ and the ultimate accolade - ‘Global Project of the Year’ – at the RICS Awards grand final, 2011. ComPropScotland.com, 3 October 2011
Scotsman.com, 30 September 2011
Editor: Laura Butcher T: +44 (0)131 240 0899 lbutcher@rics.org RICS Scotland, 9 Manor Place, Edinburgh, EH 3 7DN T: + 44 (0)131 225 7078 F: + 44 (0)131 240 0830/1www.rics.org/scotland Please note: RICS will not accept any responsibility for any loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the material included in this publication
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Local News Professional input from members The Professional Group Boards (PGBs) enable RICS Scotland to draw on the skills and expertise of its members from a variety of backgrounds including the private, public and academia sectors. There are currently 10 PGBs in Scotland and their role includes developing policy, contributing to guidance notes and helping to promote the profession to potential members. Some current projects are detailed below.
Building Surveying PGB Within Scotland a large portion of existing housing stock is unsuitable for cavity wall insulation and cavity fill could have a detrimental effect on the core building fabric of such properties. Meetings have been held with Scottish Government and other external stakeholders to discuss issues further and joint guidance for members and consumers will be issued.
Joint Commercial Market PGB The PGB is working with the RICS Public Sector Executive Group on an asset management initiative. RICS is refreshing public sector asset management guidelines and the PGB will address the Scottish issues in this.
QS & Construction PGB The board is providing input for Scottish Government on the draft standardised approach to public sector procurement pre-qualification procedures.
For further information on Scotland’s PGBs visit www.rics.org/scotlandpg or email Sharon Stewart, Professional Groups Manager sstewart@rics.org.
Get the knowledge Whether you’re looking for up to date information on the latest industry developments, tracking down historical data or just want to browse what’s been published on a topic of interest, RICS Reference Services can help you. Based in the library at 9 Manor Place, Edinburgh, RICS Scotland’s Reference Services are available to assist you via email, over the phone or face-to-face.
Available 24/7 For those questions that just can’t wait, we’re available 24 hours a day thanks to our online catalogue. Visit www.rics.org/catalogue to view what’s in our collection, and much more besides. For example: • Our ‘what’s new’ section lists the latest articles, books, market reports and online publications and websites identified by the RICS Library and gives a round up of our key subject areas • Our ‘professional groups’ section can help you find the best information within your sector of interest • Our ‘FAQ’ section is an excellent first port of call for common enquiries.
Keep up to date You can also subscribe to our free fortnightly knowledge alert e-bulletin for the latest news sent direct to your inbox. See a sample bulletin and sign up at www.rics.org/knowledgealert. Plus don’t forget to visit our blog www.rics.org/libraryblog. For more information please contact Robert Jones, information assistant (Mon-Fri 1000-1400) e: edlib@rics.org or t: +44 (0)131 225 7078 (ask for library) or visit www.rics.org/library.
Winter 2011 I Scottish Surveyor I 3
InBrief Experts wanted! RICS produces monthly, quarterly and biannual UK market reports. The reports cover housing, lettings, rural, commercial, construction and arts & antiques and the results help inform government policy, and receive wide-spread media coverage. Additionally the housing market survey is cited by the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee at its monthly interest rate setting meetings. We need more members in Scotland to take part in the surveys to help give a good picture of what the markets are like here. Please visit the website for more information and to sign up. www.rics.org/ukmarketsurveys
Redundancy guide This guide has been compiled jointly by RICS, LionHeart (the benevolent fund for members and their families) and the recruitment consultants Macdonald & Company to help members faced with redundancy. The guide describes your entitlement to redundancy payments and state benefits and also offers advice on coping with debt, maintaining a positive approach in a difficult situation and seeking new employment. The guide outlines all the ways in which RICS and LionHeart can help. View the guide...
Social media Social media is fast becoming the communication tool of choice for many businesses and RICS is keeping pace. RICS offers a variety of social media you can follow, as well as networking and communication opportunities with other RICS members, not just in the UK, but throughout the world.
www.rics.org/socialmedia
Tenancy deposit scheme RICS Scotland is partnering a submission made to Scottish Government to run a residential tenancy deposit scheme. If approved, the scheme will have the backing of landlord, agent and tenant organisations. A series of adjudication awareness events are also taking place. Read More....
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InBrief RICS matrics Scotland The web pages for RICS matrics Scotland have recently been updated with information and contact details for the new committee. There are also member profiles, with new ones added regularly, a round-up of events and a downloadable copy of Aberdeen and North East region’s newsletter. www.rics.org/matricsscotland
Annual report RICS Scotland’s annual report 2010/11 is now available to view online. John Edwards, immediate past Chairman, gives an overview of his time in office and his highlights. RICS Scotland’s achievements in the areas of advancing the profession, extending membership, promoting the profession and developing members are also included. Read more.
Scottish Arbitration Centre The Scottish Arbitration Centre has unveiled its independent Arbitral Appointments Committee as well as its new website. The centre is the home of domestic and international arbitration in Scotland and is a partnership between the Scottish Government, RICS Scotland, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the Faculty of Advocates and the Law Society of Scotland. www.scottisharbitrationcentre.org
New regional training advisor Susan Ferrol MRICS will be taking over as RTA Scotland from Alan Melvin who retired at the end of August 2011. Susan formally started in September 2011. Susan is a chartered quantity surveyor with over 20 years’ experience in contracting in both the private and public sector and has also worked in Dubai. Susan is already an RICS APC Assessor, APC Doctor and APC Chairman. Contact Susan at: rtascotland@ricsonline.org.
Winter 2011 I Scottish Surveyor I 5
feature
The Construction Act Coral Riddell and Laura Allison from Pinsent Masons explain the changes to the Act in Scotland. The Local Democracy Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (“the Construction Act”) which amends the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 has already been enacted in England and will come into force in Scotland on 1 November 2011. The aim of the amendments is to simplify the payment mechanisms and make adjudication more accessible. The main changes under the Construction Act are summarised below.
Contracts in writing
Notice of Intention to Pay Less
The Construction Act abolishes the requirement for contracts to be in writing before they can be subject to the provisions of the Act.
New Notice of Intention to Pay Less specifying the sum the payer considers to be due and the basis for the calculation may be issued. This replaces withholding notices. The notice must be served no later than the prescribed period before the final date for payment.
Payment changes Payer/payee notice
Pay-when-certified clauses
Current Law:
Current Law:
Notices are issued by the payer, no later than 5 days after due date, stating sum due.
Pay-when-paid clauses are ineffective, however, the aim of the Act is circumvented by pay-when-certified clauses.
New Law: Payment notices can now be issued by the payer, a specified person (i.e. architect/engineer/any third party) or the payee. The notice must specify the sum considered to be due and the basis for the calculation.
New Law: Prohibits clauses which make payment conditional on performance of obligations under another contract or a decision by any person as to whether obligations under another contract have been performed.
Payee’s Notice in Default
Suspension
Current Law:
Parties will have a right to suspend ‘any or all obligations’, with an entitlement to recover costs and expenses.
No sanction for failure to issue a payment notice.
New Law: If payer notice is not received the payee may issue a Notice in Default stating the amount considered to be due and the basis for the calculation.
Requirement to pay Notified Sum
Adjudication changes The Slip Rule Adjudicators will be allowed to correct clerical or typographical errors arising by accident/omission.
Costs of Adjudication
There will be a positive requirement for the payer to pay the “notified sum” on or before the final date for payment. The notified sum will be the sum set out in one of the following: the payer’s notice, specified person’s notice, payee’s notice or payee’s Notice in Default.
Parties will be prohibited from making prior arrangements in the construction contract as to costs of adjudication unless it confers power on the adjudicator to allocate his fees and expenses as between the parties or allows the parties to agree costs after the notice of intention to refer the dispute to adjudication is made.
New building contract documents, which incorporate the changes to the Act, are available from the RICS Scotland bookshop. Please call +44 (0)131 225 7078.
For more information on these changes please email Coral Riddell, Associate, coral.riddell@pinsentmasons.com or Laura Allison, Solicitor, laura.allison@pinsentmasons.com.
6 I Scottish Surveyor I Winter 2011
feature
Counting the cost of
money laundering Jennifer Watson, RICS Regulation policy manager, gives some tips on how not to be complicit. A lot is happening in the world of money laundering. The UK government is currently reviewing domestic rules, international approaches are changing and the European Union is preparing a review of its legislation, which sets the framework for the UK laws.
The UK Government estimates that serious organised crime is worth approximately £20 billion a year in the UK. Property professionals are a particularly attractive target for criminals seeking to disguise or hide the proceeds of crime.
1. Don’t deal in cash!
4. Document internal procedures for staff to follow
Part or full settlements in currency could be suspicious as it could be someone trying to avoid paying tax or a confiscation order.
2. I dentify your client and beneficial owner
If it becomes difficult to carry out the due diligence checks, ask yourself why.
3. Provide training to staff
Your staff are your line of defence! Ensure they receive proper training about how to apply the legislation when you first employ them. Provide continuous training so that staffs keep up to date with any changes. One area where this is absolutely vital is when it comes to submitting a ‘suspicious activity report’ to the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
RICS has co-authored guidance to assist members in complying with the rules but an awareness of small but effective steps to take to counter possible money laundering will also help.
Do staff know what to do? In your absence, are you confident that they could take the actions necessary to demonstrate the firm has complied with all that is required of them? Are there written procedures which are easily accessible to staff to discharge the firm’s responsibilities under the legislation?
The proceeds of crime can be used in full or in part to pay for property or rent, for example with money gained from drug dealing, prostitution or human trafficking. It does not matter when the crime occurred – a property professional selling a house after a crime took place would still be at risk of falling foul of the money laundering rules if the property was bought using the proceeds from the crime.
The key issue to always have in mind is risk: applying the checks you think are appropriate and being able to demonstrate this should help to ensure you can distinguish between legitimate customers wanting to buy a house and people intent on criminal behaviour.
The RICS guidance on money laundering can be downloaded here. Winter 2011 I Scottish Surveyor I 7
feature
National Housing Trust: Innov Neil Rutherford, associate director at Scottish Futures Trust gives an update on the new housing initiative. In the current economic climate, innovation in the delivery of public infrastructure will be key to unlocking future development and economic growth. This innovation could take many forms, such as: developing new solutions to drive value for money; making more efficient use of existing public sector funding; leveraging additional funds and resources into infrastructure projects or engendering partnership between the public and private sector. To this end, Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust have been working closely over the last year to deliver innovation in the affordable housing market in Scotland through a new initiative: the National Housing Trust (NHT).
Partnership working
Building & letting the homes
The NHT initiative is designed to deliver partnerships between the public and private sectors to boost the supply of affordable homes where they are most needed. The initiative has also been designed to aid the economy and support jobs, particularly in the construction industry, by allowing developers and house builders to kick-start construction on stalled developments.
Under NHT, developers (such as builders, RSLs and investors) are appointed to build a specified number of affordable homes on land which they already own or over which they have an option over.
The initiative aims to deliver housing based upon an intermediate rent basis. Target groups for the NHT homes vary by local authority, but are likely to be either, households on low to moderate incomes who cannot easily afford market rents, are not currently in a priority group for accessing social rented housing or presently unable to afford owner occupation. 8 I Scottish Surveyor I Winter 2011
Once built, the developer and local authority jointly purchase the units through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). The SPV will then own and let the homes to tenants under short assured tenancy agreements. The initiative requires the homes be available for let for between 5 and 10 years and that the developer also provides management and maintenance services. Evidence to date shows this latter role will be primarily provided by RSLs and residential letting agencies.
vation in action Funding the homes Homes brought into the scheme will be jointly funded by the participating local authority and the developer. A Scottish Government guarantee will be available to the local authorities should there be any shortfall in the debt repayments. The local authority will fund between 65-70% of the purchase price of a house, with the developer providing the remaining 35-30% in the form of a loan note (5%) and equity (25-30%).
market value. Should neither wish to exercise this right, the house will be sold on the open market.
The developer funds the building of the houses during the construction period and, provided that they are built to an agreed specification and timescale, the SPV will buy the properties (as a whole or by phases) once completed. In essence, the speculative nature of the build is removed for the developer, as he has a guaranteed sale upon construction completion.
Current state of play
Following the purchase of the homes by the SPV, the homes will be let and rents will begin to flow. The rents themselves will be used firstly to meet the operational costs of the homes (e.g. management and maintenance costs) and secondly the local authority loan interest costs. Thereafter, any surplus is used to build up an operations reserve and service the interest on the developer loan note.
Upon the sale of properties, the local authority loan is repaid first, then the private sector loan note, with any excess providing the developer with a return on their equity stake capped at 20%. Any sums beyond this cap revert to the public sector for more affordable housing.
Phase 1 of NHT was launched in autumn 2010 and has seen the successful conclusion of a number of contract awards with developers of different sizes. Contracts for over 450 units have already been signed, with further signings expected shortly. The first homes are due to be delivered early next year. As well as a significant boost to affordable housing supply, NHT is also stimulating construction activity and safeguarding jobs. Given the success of phase 1 and the appetite of both the public and private sectors for further phases of NHT, Scottish Government and SFT are looking at both a second phase of the existing model and the introduction of RSL variants of the model.
Selling the property After the initial 5 year period, the developer is entitled to call for the sale of the properties. The sale proceeds will be used to repay the upfront funding requirements of the initiative and to provide returns. The sales process includes rights of pre-emption for the sitting tenant and a local authority nominee (such as an RSL) to purchase the property at
Want to find out more? Neil is speaking at the RICS Scotland lunchtime CPD event on 13 December in Glasgow and 14 December in Edinburgh. Book your place today. www.rics.org/lunchtime.
Winter 2011 I Scottish Surveyor I 9
feature
Taking stock of the recession Colin Woodward, managing director of Contract Scotland, discusses how the construction sector copes with staffing issues during the recession. The construction sector is typically first into recession and first out, but no matter how many times this happens, it doesn’t really get any easier for individuals and companies trying to plan their finances and manage resources. We’d argue this time that we’ve had almost perfect storm conditions and the recession of 2007 onwards has brought specific challenges. So, as the dust settles on a particularly sharp crash, and we start to see very small, though inconsistent, signs of recovery, it is useful to take stock and assess if there’s anything employers and recruiters can learn. Signs of recovery are evident. At Contract Scotland, we saw a 42% increase in temporary staff turnover for the first eight months of 2011 compared to the same period for 2010 and permanent staff figures for the same period are even better.
Short-term solutions The lack of confidence employers have in recruiting full time permanent staff means that the emphasis of the market will remain firmly on short-term solutions for the time being and candidates need to be flexible and adaptable to remain in continuous employment. It’s a generalisation, but in the last recession in the early ‘90s, employers shed staff much more quickly than this time. The still difficult financial situation caused by our simultaneous banking crisis was also lacking last time and so recovery then was arguably easier.
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The prevailing business models have changed since the 1990s. Then, the building contractor and house builder tended to be one and the same business, which tended to act as a self-regulator. By the mid-noughties, ‘specialist’ house-builders, operating independently, were more the norm. Investment capital was plentiful and the houseconstruction market became seriously overheated.
Recruiting the right people We can predict continuing difficult times ahead and it’s important you employ people who are right for your business. At Contract Scotland we have equipped our candidates with full and appropriate qualifications. This adds weight to professions where health and safety needs are paramount and where consistent innovation is key to profitability and success. Overall though, I think we need to take heart that the worst may be over and take our time to rebuild on as strong a footing as possible through recruiting the right people for vacancies, rather than just taking what’s available. Let’s take stock and restructure. For more information email Colin.woodward@contractscotland.co.uk or visit www.contractscotland.co.uk. Make sure your CPD is up to date. Visit www.rics.org/scotlandevents today.
feature
Creating value from better places Steven Tolson MRICS, director of Ogilvie Group Developments Ltd discusses the role chartered surveyors have in creating better places.
It’s almost a year since the Scottish Government, supported by RICS Scotland, published its guide to delivering better places. The guide suggested long-term fitness for purpose is the crucial test for a good or better place and the essential engine for the creation of added value.
town planning, as a great thinker and ‘doer’. We all need to think how we can ‘do’ rather than default to process, rules and regulations.
Planning policy makers have called for better places and chartered surveyors have a vital role in this process. We need however, to emphasise our experience and competence in planning, implementation, promotion, selling and management of development projects.
‘Doing’ is absolutely to do with investment and finance. In the present economic climate the private sector is in no position to ‘do’ much. What public sector funding there is, is increasingly offered on a loan rather than grant basis. To some extent things are starting to shift in the right direction with initiatives such as Tax Incremental Finance Scheme, European funding initiative JESSICA and Local Asset Backed Vehicles. But we need greater partnership working between the public and private sector. Banks are still more likely to lend to the public sector but the private sector has the management skills to make delivery happen.
Place making is not predominantly about aesthetic quality. Successful places need long-term investment and management. It takes time to gain a positive reputation to attract more people to invest, interact, trade and generally have a good time.
Fit for purpose The role of planning policy is to define the purpose of a place but it has a limited role in achieving fitness for purpose and economic value. This is a role for chartered surveyors who have much more to offer than skilled technical advice. Our experience with clients, their motivations and values, the determinants of property markets and investment funding are all vital aspects in delivering better places. Policy is the foundation for place delivery but it needs to be realistic, viable and appropriate, and to recognise its own limitations. Otherwise it will never be implemented. Lewis Mumford referred to Patrick Geddes, the father of modern
A shift in direction
To achieve good places we need sustained leadership with real collaborative working and a mutual objective of maximising long-term value rather than simply to minimise short-term costs. For these reasons there is no better time for chartered surveyors to demonstrate their skills and experience to government decision makers.
Interested in delivering better places? Hear Steven speak at the RICS Scotland lunchtime event on 6 December in Glasgow and 7 December in Edinburgh. Book now. www.rics.org/lunchtime.
Winter 2011 I Scottish Surveyor I 11
Careers & Education Membership RICS is the world’s leading qualification when it comes to professional standards in land, property and construction. Once you achieve RICS status you will soon realise the commercial benefits of holding such a prestigious and internationally recognised professional qualification. To reflect the diversity of the profession, RICS has developed a variety of routes to membership; all are subject to rigorous standards, training and assessment. There are three main routes: l
A ssociate – for individuals with a minimum of four years work experience and/or vocational qualifications
l
raduate – aimed at those with an RICS accredited G degree
l
xperience – ideal if you are a professional holding an E honours degree and at least five years’ relevant experience.
If you are based in Scotland and wish to find out more contact Gail Hunter, Head of Business Development, ghunter@rics.org. If you are based outside Scotland, please visit www.rics.org/joinrics.
Education RICS matrics Scotland members attend school and college career fairs to promote surveying as a career and the benefits of RICS membership. For information on all RICS accredited courses, please visit www.rics.org/courses Keith Petrie, RICS Scotland Chairman heads up the RICS Scotland Education Forum, which is represented by both practitioners and academia. The forum discusses a variety of topics and issues in relation to education, training and development of future surveyors. If you wish to become involved in the forum which meets twice a year, please contact Gail Hunter, Head of Business Development ghunter@rics.org.
Careers A new hardcopy RICS careers guide ‘Surveying 2012’ has recently been launched and can be accessed electronically www.rics.org/surveying2012. The guide provides fantastic information for those looking at a career within the world of surveying, covering the diverse role of surveying, benefits, specialisms, case studies and interviews. Students, trainees and newly qualified members can also benefit from joining their local RICS matrics which provides a network of support, skills and career progression as well as social club activities. Best of all it’s free to join! www.rics.org/matrics.
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RICS matrics RICS matrics Scotland news
What is RICS matrics? RICS matrics is a branch of RICS aimed at students, graduates and newly qualified surveyors with less than 10 years’ post qualification experience. The role of RICS Matrics is to provide a social and support network for surveyors new to the profession. RICS matrics supports surveyors new to the profession through organising social and networking events and seminars to assist with career progression and to allow you to meet new people and make new contacts.
Get involved in Scotland RICS matrics Scotland has six committees across Scotland: l
H ighlands and Islands
l
Aberdeen and North East
l
Tayside and Fife
l
Edinburgh and South East
l
Glasgow and West
l
Dumfries and Galloway.
Since July 2011, RICS matrics Scotland has had a strong start to the committee year and has held a series of seminars ranging from fire and security in Aberdeen, renewables in Edinburgh and dilapidations in Glasgow. RICS matrics Scotland has also organised a range of social events including networking drinks in Inverness, pub quizzes in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dumfries and Galloway. Glasgow also held their annual charity ceilidh to raise funds for Help for Heroes in October.
Interested in joining? Contact Kerri McGuire, Chair of RICS matrics Scotland at kmcguire@savills.com or visit www.rics.org/matricsscotland for more information.
Dates for your diary... Giving something back This year RICS matrics Scotland is aiming to encourage members to get involved with local charities. Edinburgh has taken the lead on this and took part in a community project which involved helping to paint the front of an Oxfam shop in Musselburgh. Glasgow will be participating in Christmas present wrapping for Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre in December. RICS matrics Scotland is also introducing its first annual conference. The event will take place in Glasgow in February 2012 and further details will be on the RICS website nearer the time.
3 November Aberdeen and North East The BIG Quiz 10 November Glasgow and West Network 2011 joint networking event with Scottish Young Lawyers Association and Scottish Young Planners Network 14 November
dinburgh and South East E What is the APC? seminar
7 December
dinburgh and South East E Christmas drinks
8 December
lasgow and West G Christmas drinks
9 December Aberdeen and North East Christmas lunch.
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Policy News Have you arranged tenant farm let?
Ministerial planning summit The Scottish Government’s high level planning summit in October was attended by RICS Scotland to discuss the future of planning in Scotland. Graeme Reay MRICS, Head of RICS Scotland’s Planning & Development and Environment Professional Group Board attended the event which was hosted by Cabinet Secretary John Swinney MSP as well as Planning Minister Aileen Campbell MSP and Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing MSP. Members with experience of letting farmland are being encouraged to complete an online survey. RICS Scotland together with Scottish Land & Estates (formerly SRPBA) are looking to build a picture of the tenancies that have been made in recent months. The information will be fed back to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead MSP. Complete the survey here.
Working with Scottish Government on Housing
New rules for property factors New legislation requires that all professionals providing block property management services for property owned by multiple owners will soon be required to join a register and follow a code of conduct. The code is currently out for consultation and RICS Scotland would welcome views on this. Further information is available on the RICS website.
Possible changes to empty rates relief RICS Scotland has reacted to the announcement that the Scottish Government will review rates relief on empty commercial properties in 2013. In a letter to cabinet secretary John Swinney MSP, RICS Scotland director Graeme Hartley highlighted the difficulty commercial landlords are facing in the current economic climate and the benefits of having a favourable regime in Scotland over other parts of the UK.
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RICS Scotland continues to be represented at a number of Scottish Government working groups. Recently the Housing Policy Advisory Group (HPAG) took place to discuss the forthcoming Housing Bill and a new Sustainable Housing Group has been set up by Scottish Government. RICS Scotland is also engaging with Scottish Government on other areas including continued changes to the private rented sector such as the tenancy deposits and the introduction of tenant information packs.
For more information on any of the above issues, please contact Neil Freshwater, Policy and Practice Manager at RICS Scotland e: nfreshwater@rics.org t: +44 (0)131 240 0897.
RICS Events An event for everyone Whether you want to attend a lunchtime seminar, a half-day session or a full day conference, we have an event to help you maintain your CPD. Visit www.rics.org/scotlandevents for the full list.
A different approach to your CPD In a world where flexibility is a requirement, not an optional extra, maybe it’s time you took a different approach to how you get in your CPD. If you had the choice, how would you put together your own CPD event? Maybe an update on contract law followed by a presentation on ethics and rules of conduct for surveyors, but skip the session on landlord and tenant which doesn’t really apply to you. For the first time you can now build you own conference agenda. The CPD Conference will take place on 1 December 2011 and the format will let you pick and
choose from the agenda to make sure you only get the most relevant information. The event will be in Perth to provide a central location with ease of access. It features 20 different presentations from across the world of land, property and construction as well as sessions of interest to all surveyors and a keynote from the RICS Scotland Chairman. With options for attending the full or half day or just a oneoff presentation after the morning appointment, there never has been an event which puts your learning in your own hands. Find out more details and the full programme options at www.rics.org/cpdconference.
Rural surveyors’ chance to stay ahead We understand maintaining your CPD and keeping up with market conditions and new legislation can be hard. Plus, to stay ahead, you need to make new contacts and network with peers. We can help you do all of this, in one day, at one location – the next rural mid-session on 17 November 2011 at the Battleby Centre in Perthshire. This event will enable you to hear the latest developments affecting rural practitioners and the benefits they can bring to your business. The programme will look at the Scottish Government’s plans for land use and how the property market is performing.
We will also address how the CAP review will influence land values and farming profitability and how the challenges and opportunities of Scotland’s uplands will affect the rural and land sector. The mid-session is a great source of CPD and the perfect chance to catch up with friends and colleagues or even make new contacts with other rural practitioners. Visit www.rics.org/midsession for the full programme and to book online today.
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Why not enter? The 2012 awards are now open for entries, with a new category ‘design and innovation’. The awards are free to enter and the closing date is 20 January 2012 with Scottish winners announced in May 2012. Visit www.rics.org/awards for your entry pack.
Unst project scoops global prize
More Scottish contenders
Belmont House in Unst, Shetland has been commended in the building conservation category of the RICS Awards global finals 2011 held at the Savoy hotel in London on 21 October, hosted by TV presenter Julia Bradbury. Town Hall Hotel & Apartments, Bethnal Green, London was crowned Global Project of the Year at the event
Belmont House wasn’t the only Scottish project battling it out for a global award. The other hopefuls were:
Belmont House had previously won the building conservation award and been named Scottish Project of the Year in the RICS Scotland Awards in May. The derelict house was rescued by the Belmont Trust who worked with GrovesRaines Architects and Michael Thomson Quantity Surveyors.
Hippodrome in Bo’ness for the community benefit prize.
Edinburgh’s ‘Springside’ for the regeneration award John Hope Gateway at the Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh for the sustainability accolade
These projects were winners in their categories in the RICS Scotland Awards in May but were pipped to the post for the global prize in their categories.
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Image Bank 16 I Scottish Surveyor I Winter 2011
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