RICS Discussion forums

RICS girl power in action

Hilary — Fri, 16 May 2008 09:40:00 GMT

I was reading the education supplement in Tuesday’s Guardian and saw that the Royal Institute of British Architects are launching a returners course via London Metropolitan University for women who’ve taken a career break. It's in their article a Women at Work. RICS has a campaign called Raising the Ratio which aims to boost women’s status in the surveying profession. There’s a page dedicated to the campaign .

I often get calls from women returning to the profession after a career break who need to get up to speed with what’s happening in particular surveying areas. The best way is to look at our Hot Topics at where you’ll find we’ve selected the best material on burning subjects. You can use these to then view material online - as we put online reports as well as ebooks and case law on these lists. You can use these to borrow material from us. Once you’ve picked what you want to borrow email us a form so we can process your order quickly. The great thing here is we post out for free. You’ll also find our lists under the Knowledge Base area in our online database - good for swatting up on your faculty specialisms. The cherry on the cake is our Knowledge Alert fortnightly bulletin which filters all the latest goings on in property and construction with links and saves you the time of reading hundreds of magazines. You can sign up by emailing my colleague tnorton@rics.org. If you’re a member sign up through the member newsletter preferences by logging on rics.org selecting My RICS from the toolbar, then My Details from the left hand choice of options on the screen. You can then pick up the E-newsletters tab and add it to your choices .

If you’re recently returned to work after a career break or are about to, let us know what you think of these services. If you’ve got any ideas of what else we could do to help you, do suggest these to us on the blog.

Acquisition of Land - Rates of interest after entry

Annette — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:03:00 GMT

RICS library regularly receives requests for information on Compulsory Acquisition of Land (Rates of Interest after Entry) Regulations 1995.

The Annexe to the Circular Letter on Compulsory Purchase: Rates of Interest after Entry published on 12 March 1997 provides general guidance on the payment of interest on compensation at the prescribed rate

Updated rates of interest tables are available in pdf and word format.

Draft Legislative Programme

Danielle — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:44:00 GMT

The Government's Draft Legislative Programme will be announced after Prime Minister's Questions tomorrow. As the name suggests, this sets out the legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session.

Rumours have been circulating about the content of the 'draft Queen's speech', with some papers suggesting the Prime Minister hopes to use this as a means to wrestle back control over policy and fight back against the recent slump in polls.

As usual the PA team will be keeping a close watch and comments will be sent to members/interested parties who have signed up for the public affairs newsletter (you can do this by emailing Penny Wilcock - PWilcock@rics.org).

Watch this space!

Veterinary use class

Hilary — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:46:00 GMT

Last Friday the Professional Information team got a call in from a solicitor who was not sure what use class a veterinary practice came under and was writing this into a lease. We usually ask enquirers to take a look at the Planning Portal page which gives the latest listing. You'll see by following the last link it unfortunately doesn't list what a vet's practice comes under! The solicitor thought it was a D1. Peter, one of Information Officers, recommended checking it in the Land use gazetteer: the comprehensive guide to land uses and their use classes by Stephen Godfree which drills down into many more different types of premises than those listed on the Planning Portal web page. We've got a copy here in our library so if you come up against a building use that's not on the Plannint Portal web page, email us @ library@rics.org or give us a call on +44 (0)870 333 1600 option 1 x3714 and we'll check it out for you!

Chartered surveyors for courses

Hilary — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:42:00 GMT

Over the past couple of weeks a few careers requests have come my way. A typical one from a school library wanting to get the latest RICS careers literature. Our Contact Centre team in Coventry can send out a careers pack. You can email them at contactrics@rics.org to get one. Otherwise if you want to save the trees a useful revamped site is www.rics.org/courses. You can use this to find surveying courses around the world as well as to find out what Chartered Surveyors do under the Careers button.

RICS CONNECT Available Today!

Danielle — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:42:00 GMT

The latest edition of RICS Connect (previously known as the Public Affairs Brief) will be sent today to all subscribers. The complete rebranding of the newsletter will be unveiled alongside a new template in June which we hope readers will find more user-friendly!

Highlights from this issue include:

Quantity Surveyors and Project Managers Recommended for National Shortage Occupation List
RICS meets CLG Team to Discuss Eco-Towns
The European Parliament and Council formally adopt the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)

The newsletter contains information on the work of the public affairs, press, economics, research, policy and regulation policy teams in Brussels, London and other parts of the UK. It also covers information on market surveys, policy positions and briefings on Government activity.

Please email Penny Wilcock (PWilcock@rics.org) if you would like to be added to the circulation list.

What's the latest on VAT and building materials

Hilary — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:20:00 GMT

It's tricky keeping on top of what's happening for businesses out there. On Friday one of our members was trying to find out what was on the cards for VAT as a client thought they'd be able to get a VAT reduction on building materials for a refurbishment.

After scouting on the website I found this article on the 2008 budget. You'll see on page four a there's a mention of VAT on buildings.

I had a chat with our specialist Information Officer Annette Howard as this had a residential property angle and she came up with this guidance VAT: Land and buildings - New Schedule 10 of the VAT Act 1994 on the HM Customs and Revenue website which includes a helpline phone number.

Do let us know if you've found any handy sources of information on this topic too.

Who will London elect ?

RICS Public Affairs — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:44:00 GMT

Today the results will start coming in for the battle for London. Will it be Boris, Ken or Brian who emerges the winner ? Here is the link to the results .

Whatever the outcome RICS is ready to work with the next London Mayor on key property and planning issues that affect the city. In March, RICS launched its London Manifesto covering the four key RICS policy priorities.

Update: Boris Johnson has been elected Mayor of London, bringing with him Sir Simon Milton who will hold the post of Senior Adviser on Planning.

Library book sale 2008

Robin Hemmings — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:41:00 GMT

Due to an RICS Books warehouse move the Library has some old and surplus Bookshop stock to sell at discounted rates.

The titles are mainly on computing with a few surveying titles. The computing titles may refer back to previous versions of software but are priced accordingly and include the popular ‘for dummies’ series, the Microsoft ‘Step by step’ guides and a good, easy-to-use series called ‘In easy steps’.

Check the website for a list of titles: http://www.rics.org/Services/Library/booksale.html

Just email library@rics.org letting us know which books you are interested in, giving your membership number. We will email back confirming if they are still available and sending you a credit card slip to complete.

Prices are as stated plus a postal charge of £3 for the first item and 60p per item after that.

Don’t forget RICS Books has a much larger selection of current titles available at www.ricsbooks.com and a Bookshop you can visit at Great George Street.

Making old housing energy efficient

Hilary — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:59:00 GMT

I was reading The Guardian yesterday and found an interesting story on the energy company E.ON and the University of Nottingham who are set to build a 1930s semi to test out how to make old UK housing stock more energy efficient . It made me think of how useful our Hot Topic listings on Green Buildings are. You’ll find they split into Energy Performance Certificates for Non Dwellings which has a handy introductory page on our website like green buildings and listings of material for Energy Performance Certificates for Residential Property and sustainable construction. Let you us know what you think of them and the E.ON and Nottingham joint venture.

European quarter facelift

Sander Scheurwater — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:39:00 GMT

Beginning April the Brussels-Capital Region (one of the three Belgian regions) in partnership with the European Commission and the City of Brussels, launched an urban design competition for the European district.

According to the Commission's press release, the goal is to "define an urban design with a strong symbolic identity, featuring convivial public spaces, giving prioirty to non-motorised mobility and public transport, and providing buildigns of high environmental quality and architectural value."

This plan envisages the office space of the Commission to increase from 170.000 m2 to 400.000 m2, and increase density from an average of 4.5 to 8.0 (floor/ground ratio). Housing should also be introduced (from 0 to 110.000 m2) and retail should be doubled (from 20.000 to 40.000 m2).

RICS is currently organising its Sustainable Urban Regeneration Lecture series at various locations in Brussels. The first lecture, held in March, was about the European quarter and thus highly topical. After the summer break, RICS will present a list of recommendations on sustainable urban regeneration.

It will be very interesting to follow this competition and see if the heart of Europe can be a role model for sustainable urban design.

Looking for information on old buildings?

Annette — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:42:00 GMT

I received an enquiry today from a member who was interested in tracing details of buildings in a street near London Bridge station.

Here is a list of useful sources which I found. Is anyone aware of any additional sources which they would like to share?

London Metropolitan Archives

RIBA

National Archives

Southwark Council Local History Library

The Survey of London - a multi-volume series of English Heritage's architectural and topographical study of London is available for reference at RICS Library. For details of volumes held search www.rics.org/library using keyword Survey of London.

For more general sources outside London local public record offices and local history societies are worth contacting.

The library has been approached for information on construction of a Victorian shop front. The Victorian Society and local history societies may be able to help. If you know of any sources or books which look at the construction of shops circa 1880s which include diagrams please can you email Annette Howard at library@rics.org

What's the best way of getting us to help?

Hilary — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:57:00 GMT

If you're knee deep in work, surrounded by emails and having trouble finding the elusive answer to your question what should you do? Either ring us on +44 (0)870 333 1600 option 1 x3714 or drop us an email to library@rics.org . We can talk you through how to find the answer or we can answer you offline and zap you the links you need by email. This will give you time to grab a coffee and get down to the nitty gritty...If time's not pressing we've got a web form you can fill and send in to us.

Two heads are better than one

Hilary — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:12:00 GMT

Last Friday I got a call from a member wanting to find out the latest information and figures on offices changing into residential property in London. I found there was a lot of material on our online database much of it around the 1990s. You can find the material on there by putting in these search words:

offices and london and residential and conver$

Finding the latest statistics is much harder. One way would be to contact the planning departments in central London local authorities to find if you can get figures on a change of use from commercial to residential.

Our resident Information Officer specialising in commercial property, Peter, also suggested contacting London Residential Research and the journal Planning in London.

As you can see two heads are better than one . Have any of you got any other sources we may have missed?

Need a guiding hand?

Robin Hemmings — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:39:00 GMT

If you find yourself looking for official RICS guidance, here's a page you should put in your bookmarks or favourites:

http://www.rics.org/guidance

Current RICS Practice Statements, Guidance Notes, Codes of Practice and Information Papers are free member downloads.

The page also contains links straight to RICS Forms and Contracts which are available to buy on the RICSBooks website. Non-members who want to get hold of RICS Guidance should head straight over there.

Knowledge is free

Robin Hemmings — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:58:00 GMT

We sometimes hear from RICS members, even student members, who have never used the library. If you live a long way from London or Edinburgh, maybe you think the resources are difficult to get to?

In this case, you would be wrong! If you borrow a book from the library, we post it to you absolutely free of charge!

All you need to pay for is the return postage (we recommend covering yourself with recorded delivery if it's an expensive item) - I'm sure you'll get help from our friend with the black and white cat.

Update your knowledge effortlessly!

Hilary — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:45:00 GMT

Knowledge Alert is our fortnightly ebrief which brings you the latest that's happening in property and construction and includes links to online documents. It's a great way of keeping in touch with what's happening without reading hundreds of magazine articles and it's free . If you've not seen it take a look at the sample copy on our page. If you're not an RICS Member you can sign up via the page or emailing tnorton@rics.org . If your're an RICS Member you can sign up to get it when you've logged in www.rics.org by going to My Details and selecting the E-newsletters tab to pick up Knowledge Alert from the list of newsletters.

All about borrowing

Hilary — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:22:00 GMT

This month we're promoting our lending service. To see what our lending service can do for you have a look at our story and see what one of our members thinks of it...

Free law reports

Peter Reynolds — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:12:00 GMT

There’s no better place to start your search for UK law reports than the free website BAILII (British and Irish Legal Institute) where you can find British and Irish case law and legislation, European Union case law, Law Commission reports, and other law-related British and Irish material.

Of course you won’t find every case there – it is comprehensive but selective.

RICS Library and Information Services can provide you with photocopies of most other property-related law reports or case summaries at £8.50 per report (post) or £13.50 per report (fax) for RICS members and £15.00 (post) or £25.00 (fax) for non-members.

Try us today!

Energy Performance Certificates

Annette — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:38:00 GMT

From 6 April 2008 the certificates will be required for large commercial buildings with a total floor area greater than 10,000m2 when built, sold or let and all newly built homes and existing residential properties being marketed for sale.

RICS Library's hot topics on EPCS for Residential property and Non-Dwellings list the latest key sources.

For super fast searches, use Hot Topics

Robin Hemmings — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:16:00 GMT

Obviously, all our brightest customers know about our online catalogue at www.rics.org/catalogue

But if the subject you're researching is a popular one, we might already have done the work for you! Check out our recommended reading - including online publications - on a whole range of subjects at www.rics.org/hottopics - that way you're sure to find the most relevant material with even fewer clicks!

And we all know what that means.

Ebooks

Derry Thorburn — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:15:00 GMT

Ebooks - the books that are never on loan!

The library has a variety of ebooks available to view on our website. They are fully searchable, easy to navigate and printing is also possible. You can even compile your own book by searching and buying individual pages or chapters from various ebooks to create a unique reference item.

They all replicate the look of standard books to allow for easy reading.

Ebooks

European public procurement

Peter Reynolds — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:19:00 GMT

Do you need to know about European public procurement or to send in a notice for publication in the Supplement to the Official Journal ?

Use SIMAP – it is the best free website!

Property valuations 1982

Peter Reynolds — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:35:00 GMT

We're often asked for UK property valuations as at March 1982 because valuations are required for Capital Gains Tax as at that date. The VOA has produced a handy report covering agricultural, residential building and industrial building land values as well as office, warehouse and housing values (not retail!).

VOA property market report 1982

Do you know of any other good sources for this information?

You don't have to visit us

Hilary — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:47:00 GMT

When we're promoting our services at New Member Ceremonies we always meet some of our members who've not used our services. Those that haven't often think they need to come to London or Edinburgh to use the library. In fact this is a myth! We offer a free postal loan service worldwide so members can borrow material for lifelong learning. And did you know that there's a wealth of material available online through our database? The database holds ebooks as well as pieces of legislation, websites, case law and other full-text reports and documents. You can view these 24/7. Last year we added 30% online material to our database and it's growing...